Woman Spinner and a Shepherd with Flock 1758 - 1759

Francesco Londonio created this print, "Woman Spinner and a Shepherd with Flock," using etching and aquatint. The textured surface achieved through aquatint mimics the soft, woolly forms of the sheep, lending a tactile quality to the image. This printmaking technique, combined with the precise lines of etching, suggests a fascination with capturing the textures and surfaces of the material world. Look closely at the spinner's hands: she is holding a distaff, ready to convert raw fleece into yarn. This intimate portrayal connects directly to larger economic systems. During Londonio's time, wool production was a major industry, and images like these brought that process to the attention of the urban art market. Londonio elevates these rural tasks, prompting us to think about the labor and skill involved in textile production, and how these are often overlooked in favor of the finished product. By focusing on the making of things, we recognize the true value embedded within them.