Old Man Sitting on a Stone c. 18th century

Editor: This is Francesco Londonio’s "Old Man Sitting on a Stone." I’m really intrigued by the etching technique, the texture is so precise. What strikes you about Londonio’s choices in this print? Curator: I notice the labor involved in creating this print. The process of etching, the materials used—the metal plate, the acid—speak to a very specific mode of artistic production and consumption. Editor: How so? Curator: Well, etching allowed for multiples, making art accessible beyond the elite. Think about the implications of distributing imagery related to pastoral life and labor in 18th-century Europe. It’s really compelling! Editor: I see, so the print itself becomes part of the story. Curator: Precisely. The material and its distribution are just as vital as the image itself.