Mars standing at the left leaning on a shield, Cupid at the right 1537 - 1547

Andrea Schiavone made this print, *Mars standing at the left leaning on a shield, Cupid at the right*, using etching techniques sometime between 1510 and 1563. The incised lines which compose the image are produced by drawing through a wax ground applied to a metal plate, which is then exposed to acid. The acid bites into the metal where the wax has been removed, creating lines that hold ink. This is then transferred to paper. Schiavone has used the etching needle with great freedom to create a composition full of movement. Printmaking like this was part of a burgeoning industry at this time. It allowed artists to disseminate their ideas widely. The success of a print depended on the skills of the printmaker, but also on the infrastructure that supported its distribution and sale. The network of workshops and markets made artworks more accessible. This print, therefore, exists at the intersection of artistic skill, technical processes, and economic systems. It speaks to a time of increasing access to art and culture.