View of the Flavian Amphitheater called the Colosseum 18th-19th century

Editor: This is Francesco Morelli's "View of the Flavian Amphitheater called the Colosseum". It's an etching, and it's quite striking how the artist captured the Colosseum’s decay. What stands out to you? Curator: I'm interested in the etching process itself. Consider the labour involved in creating these intricate lines, mimicking the monumental architecture. It’s a translation of material into image, a form of cultural production for consumption. Editor: So, you see the etching not just as a depiction, but as a product of its time? Curator: Precisely. The Colosseum itself was built with forced labour, a brutal system of production. This print, centuries later, continues that thread, albeit in a different form. How fascinating! Editor: That gives me a lot to think about. Thanks!