Cherub sitting in the act of covering, by Guercino 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi created "Cherub sitting in the act of covering" using etching, a process that captures fine details and tonal variations. The cherub, rendered with delicate lines, is caught in a moment of playful concealment, its form both solid and soft. Piranesi masterfully uses light and shadow to define the cherub’s body, creating depth and volume. Notice how the etched lines vary in density, building up darker areas to contrast with the stark white of the paper. Piranesi's work often explores themes of perception and representation. Here, the cherub's act of covering can be seen as a visual game, where the boundary between what is hidden and revealed blurs. The draping fabric, with its intricate folds and shadows, becomes an active participant in this game, challenging our understanding of form and space. This interplay reflects broader artistic concerns of the period, where artists questioned fixed meanings and experimented with new ways of seeing.