Vaas met wijnranken en putti 1778

This print of a vase with wine tendrils and putti was created by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, probably in the 1770s, using etching, a printmaking technique with a fascinating relationship to craft. Etching begins with a metal plate, covered in a waxy, acid-resistant ground. The artist scratches an image into this ground, exposing the metal. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. This process can be repeated to create lines of different depths and thicknesses. What is so compelling about etching is how its techniques simulate drawing. It is not a direct translation but rather a carefully controlled chemical process used to produce an image. This print beautifully reflects the values of its time, particularly its ornamental profusion, and the appreciation of skilled labor that made such detail possible. Through the combination of craft, technique, and a skilled hand, Piranesi elevated printmaking to the level of fine art.