Entrance to the courtyard of the Temple of Isis 

This etching of the Entrance to the courtyard of the Temple of Isis was made by Giovanni Battista Piranesi in the eighteenth century. Its architectural details are rendered meticulously through the skilled manipulation of metal and acid. Piranesi’s etching beautifully captures the weight and texture of ancient Roman stonework, and the geometric precision with which the wooden door was crafted. The printmaking process involves an intricate series of steps: the artist covers a metal plate with a waxy ground, draws into it with a sharp needle, and then immerses the plate in acid. The acid bites into the exposed metal, creating lines that hold ink. Piranesi was fascinated by the grandeur of Roman architecture, and his etchings both celebrated and critically examined the Empire’s impact. His works raise questions about labor, power, and cultural legacy through the careful crafting of lines and tones. They remind us that even the most monumental structures are the products of human hands.