Judith with the Head of Holofernes n.d.

This print, Judith with the Head of Holofernes, was made by Marco San Martino sometime between 1615 and 1700. It’s an etching, meaning that the image was created by drawing into a wax ground on a metal plate, which was then bitten by acid and printed. The controlled, precise lines of the etching bring a sense of drama to the scene. Notice the careful use of hatching, which creates areas of shadow and depth. Consider the labor involved: each line meticulously drawn, a testament to San Martino's skill. This print is part of a long tradition of reproductive printmaking. Etchings such as this allowed for the wide distribution of images, acting as a kind of early form of mechanical reproduction. In this way, San Martino's print participates in a culture of consumption, making art accessible to a broader audience beyond the elite. Thinking about the material and making of this work reminds us that even seemingly straightforward images are the product of skilled labor and have a wider context of production and consumption.