Port near Naples 1754 - 1808

This print of the Port near Naples was made by Adrian Zingg, likely in the late 18th century. It’s a copper engraving, a process involving meticulous work. The image is incised into a copper plate, inked, and then transferred to paper under great pressure. Consider the labor involved. The engraver would have spent countless hours carefully cutting lines into the metal. This wasn’t just about artistic skill; it was a craft, demanding precision and physical endurance. The very act of engraving, with its repetitive movements, mirrors the rhythms of labor found in the port scene itself, where fishermen are depicted casting their lines. The print also speaks to the rise of print culture and its connection to commerce. This image, dedicated to a high-ranking official, would have circulated among the elite, a commodity in itself. By focusing on its materiality and mode of production, we can appreciate how it blurs the boundaries between art, craft, and the wider social and economic forces at play.