Stadsgezicht met rivier 1739 - 1780

This cityscape with river was made by Francesco Bartolozzi using etching, a printmaking technique that's all about controlled corrosion. The artist coats a metal plate with wax, then scratches an image into the wax, exposing the metal. An acid bath bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. Ink is then applied to these grooves, and the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The magic of etching lies in its ability to capture fine details and subtle gradations of tone. Bartolozzi masterfully uses this to depict the textures of the buildings, the reflections in the water, and the atmospheric perspective. The linear quality of etching lends itself well to architectural subjects. But let’s consider labor too; the making of paper and ink, the work of the printer in the studio. All of these are folded into the final product. Bartolozzi was not just an artist, but also part of a wider network of production. Appreciating the skills of the etcher reminds us that every artwork is the product of complex processes, both artistic and industrial.