From near and Andromeda Carav 

This print by Giovanni Battista Piranesi was made using etching, a printmaking technique that goes back centuries. The design is first drawn with a needle on a wax-coated metal plate. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. These grooves hold ink, which is then transferred to paper under great pressure. Piranesi's skill with etching allowed him to achieve incredible detail and tonal range, seen here in the textures of the figures’ garments, the reflections on the vases, and the gradations of light and shadow. But etching wasn’t just a technical process for Piranesi; it was also a means of production. Prints like these were relatively inexpensive to produce and distribute, making them accessible to a wide audience. In this way, Piranesi was able to circulate his vision of ancient Rome, and his own artistic genius, far beyond the elite circles of patrons and collectors. So when we look at this print, we're not just seeing a depiction of a scene; we're also seeing the workings of a sophisticated artistic and economic system.