Ruiterstandbeeld van Karel III van Spanje 1772 - 1837

Pietro Fontana created this print of an equestrian statue of Charles III of Spain sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. It is made using a technique called etching, where lines are incised into a metal plate with acid, and then the plate is inked and printed. Consider the labor involved: the artist would have needed to be proficient in drawing, chemistry, and the operation of a printing press. This print would have been relatively easy to produce in multiples, and affordable compared to a sculpture. It allowed for the dissemination of imagery far and wide. Fontana's decision to depict the statue is itself significant. Equestrian statues have historically been a means of projecting power and authority. By reproducing this monument in print form, Fontana democratizes access to the image, making it available to a wider audience. It reminds us that materials and methods of production are never neutral. They always play a role in shaping meaning.