Seated Pan holding a pipe in his left hand 1600 - 1630

This etching of a seated Pan holding a pipe was created by Odoardo Fialetti. It's an early print, made by incising lines into a copper plate, inking it, and running it through a press. The material qualities of the metal, ink, and paper all conspire to create the image we see. The incised lines create a slightly raised surface with crisp edges, and it is these that capture the ink to create lines that convey the artist's vision. This required the engraver to use considerable pressure and control, and it is these actions that lend the image its character. This contrasts with the traditional fine arts like painting, where the artist blends and layers paints, and the process is less physically intensive. The etching process involves more complex physical and chemical processes; it is a technique that has long historical ties to commerce and industry. These prints were often made in multiples, to be sold at an affordable price, and their creation demanded considerable labor from the artist and the printer. Appreciating the work that went into their making helps us to see beyond the image to the complex social and economic context in which it was created.