Gezicht op Verrua Savoia 1701 - 1733

This is Abraham Allard’s ‘View of Verrua Savoia’, an etching made around the turn of the 18th century. As a print, it was made by coating a copper plate with wax, incising an image, and then using acid to bite the exposed lines. Finally, ink was applied, and the image transferred to paper. The result is a striking depiction of a fortified Italian town. Yet, as with any print, the image we see belies the intense labor involved. Think of the skilled hand required to render this scene in precise detail. The controlled application of acid. The cranking of the printing press. This wasn’t fine art intended for a privileged few. Prints like this were relatively cheap, intended for a broader audience. Ultimately, Allard’s View of Verrua Savoia shows us that the art of the era was deeply entwined with the growing networks of production and consumption. It also reminds us that the meaning of an artwork resides not just in its subject, but also in its making and distribution.