Autre veue du Campo Vacine 1640 - 1660

This print, "Autre veue du Campo Vacine," was made by Israel Silvestre in the 17th century using the technique of etching. It’s a direct, graphic method: the artist would have coated a copper plate with wax, then scratched an image into it with a needle. The plate was then immersed in acid, which bit into the exposed lines. The appeal of etching lies in its comparative ease. Unlike engraving, which demands great strength to cut lines directly into metal, etching allowed for a more fluid and expressive line. Silvestre's print beautifully captures the textures of stone and foliage, and the monumentality of classical architecture. Prints like these were essentially commercial products. Etchings could be produced in large numbers, and were collected by those who wished to own a record of a place without commissioning an expensive painting. In this way, etching democratized the art market, bringing views of the world to a wider audience, and changing how people saw themselves in relation to their surroundings.