Plate 10: elephant, from 'Various animals' (Diversi animali) 1636 - 1646

Stefano della Bella created this etching, “Plate 10: elephant, from ‘Various animals’”, sometime in the mid-17th century. The print presents us with a somewhat docile animal rendered using a dense network of etched lines. This technique creates a rich, textural surface that gives the elephant a palpable sense of volume and weight. The composition is simple yet effective. Della Bella uses the form of the elephant, along with its calf, to explore figure and ground relationships and how tonal variations can create depth. The detailed etching contrasts with the bare background and gives the figures a tactile quality which allows for the distinction between skin and environment. By focusing on the texture and form through this medium, Della Bella invites viewers to engage with the elephant not just as a subject, but as a study in texture, presence, and artistic interpretation.