Anna van Oostenrijk 1620 - 1664

Stefano della Bella made this engraving of Anne of Austria, Queen of France. It is a print, so we should think about its materiality and social context, not just its image. The process of engraving involves using a tool called a burin to incise lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed onto paper. The result is a reversed image, a multiplication of the design, and a distribution of the image. Engravings like this were a way of circulating images and ideas widely during the early modern period. Consider the labor involved. The artist would have needed considerable skill to create such a detailed image. The materials too – metal, ink, and paper – all required extraction, processing, and distribution. This print also speaks to the larger social issues of labor, politics, and consumption in 17th century France. By considering the materials, making, and context of this engraving, we gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and significance.