Title page: men carrying bags across a rowboat and onto shore in center, one man carrying two bags in right in the foreground, ships to left and right in the background, from 'Views of seaports' (Vues de ports de mar) 1647

Stefano della Bella created this print titled 'Title page: men carrying bags across a rowboat and onto shore in center, one man carrying two bags in right in the foreground, ships to left and right in the background, from "Views of seaports"' using etching. The composition is structured around the repetitive labor of figures unloading goods. Notice the arrangement of these figures. Their bowed postures create a rhythm of labour that directs our gaze across the scene. The detailed etching technique emphasizes the materiality of the goods and the strain of physical exertion. Bella uses line to define forms and to create tonal variation, contributing to a rich visual texture. The symmetry is interrupted by the dynamic positioning of the ships in the background. This print invites reflection on systems of trade and the human labor that supports them. The mirroring of the ships implies movement between locations, and the contrast between the stability of the ships and the instability of the rowboat implies a system dependent on imbalance. This artwork is a complex interplay of labor, commerce, and representation.