Cutaway view of the pronaos, or portico of the Temple of Honor and Virtue 

This is Giovanni Battista Piranesi’s “Cutaway view of the pronaos, or portico of the Temple of Honor and Virtue,” an etching printed on paper. Piranesi was renowned for his detailed and dramatic views of Rome, and this print exemplifies his meticulous approach to architectural representation. Look closely at the linework, its precision, and the way he uses hatching to create a sense of depth and texture, mimicking stone and brick. This print isn't just a record of a building, it’s a meditation on the labor involved in creating monumental architecture. Piranesi wasn't just an artist, but also an archaeologist. The intense labor of uncovering classical antiquity is deeply connected to the work of the printmaker. He made many prints, which were bought by wealthy tourists, thus fueling the economy. Etchings like this were luxury goods but existed within a broader economy of cultural production. They prompt us to consider the connections between artistic skill, manual labor, and the marketing of history itself.