Vedute di Roma 

This print, one of Giovanni Battista Piranesi’s *Vedute di Roma*, was made using etching, a printmaking technique involving biting lines into a metal plate with acid, inking the plate, and transferring the image to paper. Piranesi was celebrated for his mastery of the etched line, which allowed him to depict ancient Roman ruins with an almost photographic level of detail. The graphic qualities of the etched lines—their ability to create tone, texture, and depth—were all carefully controlled. Look closely, and you can see how Piranesi varies the density and direction of his lines to create subtle gradations of light and shadow, evoking the atmosphere of a particular place and time. Prints like these were avidly collected by tourists, part of a burgeoning culture industry in 18th-century Europe. They speak not only to Piranesi’s exceptional skill, but also to the wider social and economic forces that shaped the art world of his day, challenging distinctions between high art and craft.