Amphitheater of Verona (Panel 3) 1778

Editor: This is Cristoforo dall'Acqua's "Amphitheater of Verona (Panel 3)". The etching itself has this incredible sense of depth and detail. What aspects stand out to you? Curator: I focus on the production of the etching itself. Look at the labor involved in creating those fine lines, the social context of architectural documentation, and how it served the consumption of knowledge about classical forms. Was it meant for the elite, or was there a broader audience? Editor: I hadn't considered the etching as a product in itself! So, its value isn't just in representing the amphitheater, but also in the labor and materials involved in its creation and distribution. Curator: Exactly. Thinking about that materiality disrupts the traditional hierarchy that places architecture above printmaking.