Deucalion and Pyrrha, from 'Game of Mythology' (Jeu de la Mythologie) 1644

This print by Stefano della Bella, likely made in the mid-17th century, is a copperplate engraving. This was a highly skilled process. The design was incised into a copper plate, demanding control and precision, then printed. Look closely, and you’ll see the thin, sharp lines characteristic of the medium. The image depicts Deucalion and Pyrrha repopulating the earth after a flood, casting stones that transform into people. The print’s fine lines and the detail they permit were essential to the development of scientific illustration and other forms of technical drawing during this period. More broadly, the printmaking industry allowed for mass communication of ideas and images, fostering a culture of visual literacy. Yet, like many forms of labor, the repetitive work involved could be taxing and anonymous. Next time you see a print, remember to consider the many hands, and the complex social conditions, that made its creation possible.