Gezicht op de Tiber 1722 - 1781

Jacques Bacheley made this print, "View of the Tiber," using etching and engraving. These are essentially industrial processes, capable of producing many identical images. But of course, each one still requires skill to make. Look closely, and you can see the dense weave of lines that create tone and texture. This is achieved by applying acid to a metal plate, eating away at the surface. The artist has to carefully control the depth of these lines, creating a landscape of tiny valleys that will hold the ink. The choice of this technique is significant. Instead of oil paint or fresco – the materials of high art in the 18th century – Bacheley opts for a reproducible medium. The result is an image available to a wider audience, reflecting the growing print culture of the time. The image isn't just a picturesque scene. The figures are workers, and it's a portrait of labor along the river. So, considering materials, making, and context enriches our understanding, challenging the traditional separation of fine art and craft.