'Diana Preparing for Hunting' 1780

Franco Bartolozza made 'Diana Preparing for Hunting' sometime in the 1700s, using etching and engraving techniques. Look closely, and you'll notice the details created by the incised lines, especially in the drapery and the landscape. Bartolozza would have used sharp tools, called burins, to cut into a metal plate, likely copper, and create the design. The plate is then inked and printed onto paper. The printmaking process allowed for multiples, making art more accessible. This was particularly significant in the 18th century, as prints were a key way of circulating imagery and ideas, reaching a wider audience beyond the elite. The labor-intensive nature of engraving, however, reminds us of the skilled craftsmanship involved. Considering Bartolozza's print in this way, we can see it as both a product of artistic skill and an object embedded in the social and economic conditions of its time.