Piazza Cavour 1898

Giuseppe Barberis made this print of Piazza Cavour using etching and engraving techniques. These processes involve meticulously incising lines into a metal plate, applying ink, and then transferring the image to paper under high pressure. Look closely and you'll see the tremendous amount of labor involved in the production of this image. Every line, every shadow, is a testament to Barberis's skill and patience. The architectural details of the Piazza are rendered with precision. The print captures the monumentality of the square with its rhythmic arcades. Beyond its aesthetic qualities, this print offers insight into the social and economic context of its time. The rise of printmaking coincided with the growth of capitalism. Prints like this were made for mass consumption, allowing images of distant places to be circulated widely. Considering the material processes and social context allows us to appreciate the full complexity of Barberis's Piazza Cavour. It challenges our traditional notions of art and craft.