Arch of Trajan in Ancona 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi made this etching of the Arch of Trajan in Ancona. Etching, of course, is a printmaking technique that uses acid to cut into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. Here, the fine lines create detailed textures, capturing the rough, weathered surfaces of the ancient Roman architecture. Piranesi's skill with this relatively simple method, traditionally seen as craftlike, brings out the arch's monumental presence, emphasizing its decay and imposing scale. Note the labor involved: each line meticulously etched, each print carefully pulled. This was at a time when the division of labor, the mechanization of reproduction, and capitalism's grip on production were all intensifying. Piranesi’s work underscores how the artistic process is deeply tied to the social and economic forces of his time. By focusing on the materials, techniques, and social context of this etching, we can begin to reconsider any artificial hierarchy between fine art and craft.