Lake Albano 1829

Editor: So, this is Robert Wallis's "Lake Albano," a landscape print. It's interesting how the scene is almost framed by the blank space of the paper. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The etching process itself is key. Consider the labor involved in creating such detail through acid and metal. It elevates the print from mere reproduction to a crafted object, a commodity produced through specialized skill. The paper it is printed on is also interesting to consider, along with the edition size and the audience. Editor: That makes sense. I hadn't thought about the material production that way. Curator: Thinking about the materials helps us understand the print's role in a broader system of production and consumption. It's not just a pretty picture. Editor: I'll definitely look at prints differently now, considering their materiality.