Vierstromenfontein op het Piazza Navona te Rome 1675 - 1711

This print shows the Vierstromenfontein, or Fountain of Four Rivers, on the Piazza Navona in Rome. It was made anonymously, using the intaglio process of etching. Look closely, and you’ll notice the sharp, precise lines, typical of etched printing plates. A metal plate is coated with a waxy ground, and then the design is scratched into that surface with a needle. Acid is then applied, which bites into the exposed metal, creating incised lines that hold ink. The plate is then cleaned, inked, and pressed onto paper to create the print. This print captures not just the appearance of the fountain, but also the social context in which it was viewed. There are people populating the square, frozen in time. This print allowed for mass distribution, giving access to people who may never have been able to see the original sculpture. This artwork bridges the gap between the unique object and the broader public, showing the social and economic forces at play in the creation and consumption of art.