From "Bizzarie di varie Figure" 1624

Giovanni Battista Bracelli made this print – one of a series called "Bizzarie di varie Figure" – in Italy in the early 17th century using etching. The series presents us with an intriguing question about the purpose of art. Look at these two figures, are they human? Are they machines? Perhaps Bracelli is making a comment on the relationship between people and the emerging mechanical technologies of the time. The figure to the right is dressed in a costume, with what seems to be a sword hanging from the waist, this infers that it is a member of the aristocracy. Consider the social conditions that shaped Bracelli’s artistic production. Was this a period of optimism about technological advancements, or was there anxiety about people becoming subservient to machines? To gain a deeper understanding, we can consult historical documents, examine contemporary philosophical texts, and study the history of technology. Art always exists within a specific social and institutional context, and it is our job as historians to investigate these connections.