Vedute di Roma 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi made this etching, called Vedute di Roma, using metal plates and acid. It’s a traditional printmaking technique that has been used for centuries. What’s interesting here is how Piranesi uses this method to capture the grandeur of Roman architecture. Look closely, and you can see the fine lines that create depth and texture. This meticulous process allows him to show the ruinous state of these ancient buildings. The weight and scale of the buildings are evident, but so is the effect of time and decay. Piranesi was not just an artist, but also an antiquarian and architect. He was deeply interested in the material culture of Rome. His etchings reflect the work and skill involved in constructing these massive structures, and their subsequent decline. He is interested in the labor that created them, and how that labor is lost to time. Ultimately, Piranesi challenges us to see beyond the conventional categories of art and craft. He asks us to consider the cultural and social significance embedded in the very materials and processes of creation, and destruction.