Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Emperor Commodus as Hercules 1550

This print of Emperor Commodus as Hercules was made by Jacob Bos around the mid-16th century, using the intaglio process. This is a painstaking method in which an image is incised into a metal plate, usually copper or zinc. The fine lines you see were etched with acid, bitten into the surface by a resisting ground. After the plate is inked, the surface is wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. High pressure is then used to transfer the image onto paper. Look closely, and you’ll notice how the density of the lines creates the illusion of light and shadow, defining the muscular form of Commodus, and the textures of the lion skin he wears. The labor-intensive process of intaglio printing underscores the ambition of the Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae project, which aimed to document the grandeur of ancient Rome through mass reproduction. Bos’s print bridges the skilled work of the artist and the possibilities of early capitalist enterprise, connecting the traditions of fine art with a wider world of labor, politics, and consumption. This print highlights the importance of considering the material, processes, and social context when trying to understand the full meaning of an artwork.