Santa Maria di Loreto en de Zuil van Trajanus te Rome 1669 - 1670

This print of Santa Maria di Loreto and the Column of Trajan in Rome was made by Giovanni Battista Falda in the late 17th century. Falda used etching, a printmaking technique that relies on the corrosive power of acid to create lines on a metal plate. This would have allowed him to produce multiple copies efficiently. Looking closely, you'll see a stark contrast between the smooth, controlled lines of the buildings and the more textured rendering of the sky and ground. This contrast likely reflects the division of labor typical of print workshops at the time, with specialized artisans handling different aspects of the image. Falda was one of many artists who met the growing demand for images of Rome's architectural wonders. By documenting and disseminating views of the city's monuments, prints like this fueled the rise of tourism and contributed to the ongoing construction of Rome’s cultural identity, tying its present to the glory of the classical past. This print then is as much a product of the city as it is a representation of it.