Ponte dei Miracoli, Venice 1883

Andrew Fisher Bunner created this etching of the Ponte dei Miracoli in Venice using black ink on paper. The controlled, precise lines define the architectural details and capture the reflections in the canal. Consider the labor involved in such a work, and its relationship to the burgeoning art market of the late 19th century. Etchings like this one allowed artists to create multiple original prints from a single plate, offering a relatively affordable artwork for a growing middle class. The fine lines, created by carefully incising a metal plate and then using acid to deepen those lines, speak to Bunner's skill as a draughtsman and printmaker. This print reflects a tension between artistic skill and commercial production. While Bunner's artistry is undeniable, the work also participates in the expansion of the art market, and its new modes of artistic production, distribution, and consumption. By appreciating the materials and processes behind this etching, we can better understand its place within the social and economic context of its time.