St. Peter's, Rome 1921

This print of St. Peter's, Rome, was made by Louis Conrad Rosenberg in 1921, using the technique of etching. Unlike painting or sculpture, printmaking has always been tied to wider social realities, as a medium of reproducible imagery. Here, thin lines of ink conjure the massive facade of the basilica. Rosenberg used acid to bite these lines into a metal plate, a skilled process demanding great control. The matrix is then inked and pressed onto paper, leaving a delicate, slightly raised impression. In Rosenberg’s time, etching was a popular medium for artists seeking to capture architectural grandeur and the bustle of city life. But it also speaks to the democratization of art, as prints made art more accessible to a wider audience. Each impression carries the mark of labor, expertise, and the artist’s vision, blurring the lines between fine art and craft.