Salomo bouwt de tempel in Jerusalem 1675

This print, made around 1700 by Pietro Aquila, illustrates the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem. Look closely, and you’ll notice Aquila isn’t so focused on the Temple itself, but rather the labor-intensive processes required to build it. We see manual laborers in the foreground, their muscles bulging as they heave stones and swing hammers. These figures, engraved with stark lines, emphasize the physicality of their work. The artist’s choice of printmaking, a medium that allows for the mass production of images, mirrors the large-scale, coordinated effort required for such a monumental undertaking. The print isn't just a depiction of a biblical event; it’s a commentary on the social hierarchy and the sheer human effort involved in realizing grand designs. Aquila invites us to consider the labor and social context that underpins even the most revered structures. By emphasizing the materials and making, Aquila blurs the lines between art, craft, and the socio-economic realities of construction.