Two Monumental Bridges Crossing the Intersection of Canals c. 1771 - 1777

Editor: This etching, "Two Monumental Bridges Crossing the Intersection of Canals" attributed to Vincenzo Mazzi, has so much detail. The textures of the stones look incredible. How do you interpret this work, thinking about its materiality? Curator: For me, it's about the socio-economic context. The labor required to build these bridges, the quarries from which the stone was extracted – those processes are central. It begs the question, who benefited from this infrastructure, and at what cost? Editor: That's a great point. I hadn't considered the social implications of something that seems so… architectural. It really broadens my perspective. Curator: Indeed. And consider the printing process itself. The labor, the materials – even the consumption of prints like these speaks volumes about the era. Editor: I'm definitely going to rethink how I approach art history. Thanks!