Arco di Settimio Severo c. 18th century

Editor: So, here we have Johann Christian Jacob Friedrich's "Arco di Settimio Severo." It's a detailed print, and I’m struck by how it captures the textures of the stone alongside these ordinary figures. What stands out to you? Curator: The artist’s detailed rendering prompts us to consider the extraction and manipulation of the raw materials themselves. Look closely at the surfaces: where did this stone originate, and what labor was involved in quarrying, transporting, and carving it into these monumental forms? Editor: That's interesting. It's easy to overlook all the work that went into building the city. Curator: Precisely. And how does the printmaking process itself reflect or distort that labor? Is this image a celebration of imperial power, or does its medium suggest a critique of its material basis? Editor: I never considered that this work can be a critique. Thank you! Curator: Of course! The dialogue between material and representation is always at play.