Portret van Cosimo de'Medici after 1544

Nicolò della Casa created this etching of Cosimo de'Medici sometime in the mid-16th century. Rather than paint, or even carve a likeness of the Duke of Florence, della Casa employed the relatively new technology of printmaking. The etching process involves coating a metal plate with wax, scratching an image into the wax, and then bathing the plate in acid. The exposed metal is eaten away, leaving an image in relief. The plate can then be inked and used to make multiple impressions of the image. There is a direct relationship between the industrialization of the Renaissance era and the armor depicted, covered with fantastical decoration that recalls the labor of many artisans. But it's also a reflection of the printmaker's labor, who likely worked from drawings made by others. It’s crucial to consider the material process and the context in which it was made, moving past traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.