Boog van Septimius Severus te Rome 1826

Luigi Rossini made this etching of the Arch of Septimius Severus in Rome in the 19th century. Etching is a printmaking process where an image is bitten into a metal plate with acid, then inked and printed. The fine, precise lines Rossini achieved beautifully capture the monument's imposing scale and intricate details. Look closely, and you'll notice the texture of the stone, the play of light and shadow, and the bustling city life around the arch. Etching allowed for a high degree of realism, but it was also relatively efficient. Multiple prints could be made from a single plate, democratizing access to images of important landmarks. Rossini was not just an artist, but also a chronicler of his time, documenting Rome's architectural heritage for a wider audience, feeding into a growing tourist industry. This print bridges the gap between art, documentation, and the economics of cultural consumption.