New Attack on the Fortress 1611

Curator: This is Antonio Tempesta's "New Attack on the Fortress," a dynamic engraving now held in the Harvard Art Museums. The level of detail is striking. Editor: Yes, the printmaking is impressive. It has an agitated feel, almost like a fever dream of violence given the starkness of the black and white. Curator: Tempesta masterfully uses cross-hatching to render depth and texture, drawing our eye into the chaotic heart of the battle. Look at the way he suggests movement through line. Editor: And what a material process! Think of the labor involved in creating these kinds of war images, from producing the metal plate to editioning, to distribution of the image. It shows a real investment in portraying this conflict. Curator: Consider also the narrative structure. The artist creates a spatial recession that pulls you into the scene. Editor: I find it fascinating how this print was used as propaganda. Curator: Absolutely. It’s so interesting to study the formal elements and then decode the message within this intricate visual language. Editor: Agreed. Examining the labor, methods, and material life really enriches our interpretation of such pieces.