Edelman met bepluimde hoed in de hand 1620 - 1664

Stefano della Bella made this print of a young nobleman with a plumed hat in hand sometime in the 17th century. It’s a tiny thing, just a few inches in either dimension, and made with the technique of etching. The controlled bite of acid on a metal plate allows for incredibly fine, detailed lines. Look closely, and you’ll see that Della Bella uses this capacity to full advantage. The young man is resplendent in elaborate textile patterns, rendered with precision. Notice, too, the hat he holds. Those feathers speak to an economy of fashion, consumption and global trade. What about the young man’s labor? Is his only job to look good? How might we read the fine lines of this print as evidence of the labor required for its making, alongside these other questions of class and consumption? In any case, this print shows us that materials, making, and context are key to understanding the full meaning of any artwork.