Antonio Allegri da Correggio 

This monochrome portrait was produced by Antonio Allegri da Correggio, likely in the first decades of the 16th century. It appears to be executed in a printmaking technique, probably engraving or etching. The finely worked lines create shading and texture. Look closely, and you'll see the way the artist used different densities and directions of hatching to model the face, creating depth and volume. Printmaking was a crucial technology at this time, allowing for the wider dissemination of images and ideas. It also required skilled labor, from the preparation of the metal plate to the careful inking and printing process. The resulting image, while seemingly simple, is the product of considerable technical expertise. The image gives us insight into the materials and processes that shape our understanding of the Renaissance. By recognizing the labor involved, we appreciate the material conditions that have allowed us to receive it today.