Apollo holding pipes in his right hand accompanied by Pegasus 1556 - 1560

Angiolo Falconetto created this print, Apollo holding pipes in his right hand accompanied by Pegasus, probably in the 1560s, using the etching process. Consider how this print was made. First, the artist covered a metal plate with a waxy ground, then used a needle to draw this composition, exposing the metal. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit into the lines. This painstaking process would be repeated to achieve the desired depth of tone. Finally, the plate would be inked and run through a press, transferring the image to paper. The resulting image has a distinctive graphic quality, a network of fine lines creating areas of light and shadow. This printmaking technique allowed for the relatively quick reproduction of images, making art more accessible, and contributing to the rise of a visual culture driven by commerce. Though Falconetto was working with mythological subject matter, he was also participating in a broader shift towards mass production and consumption. Appreciating this context helps us understand the social and cultural significance of the work, and the way it bridges the worlds of art and industry.