A Cività Castellana 1793

Editor: So, this is Johann Christian Reinhart's "A Civita Castellana." It feels almost like a stage set. What draws your eye when you look at this work? Curator: I’m struck by the contrast between the meticulous detail of the etching and the raw, unidealized portrayal of the landscape. It highlights the labor involved in its making. Editor: That's interesting! I was so focused on the natural scene. Curator: Consider also how this print would have been circulated. Whose hands did it pass through? The paper itself, the ink… they each have a story to tell about production and consumption. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! Now I'm seeing it with fresh eyes too!