Horatius Cocles springt in de Tiber c. 1506 - 1538

Albrecht Altdorfer made this tiny print of Horatius Cocles leaping into the Tiber using the intaglio process of etching. The image is formed by lines incised into a metal plate, which would have been a skilled job requiring painstaking work. Look closely at the figure of Horatius. Altdorfer has used many tiny parallel lines to give the impression of light on his armor. But see how these lines change direction to describe the movement of the water. And the way the hatching becomes more dense in the distance, to create a sense of atmospheric perspective. The act of etching requires not only technical skill but also a deep understanding of materials. In a world before photography, prints like this one were relatively affordable, and helped disseminate classical stories like that of Horatius Cocles to a wider audience. Altdorfer's skill and the relative ease with which prints can be reproduced meant that art was no longer just for the wealthy elite. The material and process are therefore crucial to understanding the print’s original cultural impact.