Optocht om Rome vrij te maken van de pest 1657

This print, made by Giovanni Giacomo de' Rossi in Rome around 1657, depicts the city’s efforts to eradicate the plague. It's a work of graphic art, using the relatively new technology of etching to communicate a message quickly and widely. The print is essentially a collage of images, each a small window into the urban landscape and the actions taken to combat the epidemic. We see processions, quarantine measures, and cleansing rituals. Note how the city itself is depicted – the buildings, the streets, the very infrastructure – as a kind of stage for collective action. The use of printmaking is particularly relevant here. It’s a medium of reproducibility, of dissemination. This print wasn't just a work of art; it was a tool for informing the public and reinforcing a sense of shared purpose. In a time of crisis, de' Rossi turned to the most efficient means of communication available, blurring the line between art and social utility.