Porta Maggiore 1900

Giuseppe Barberis made this depiction of the Porta Maggiore using pen and ink, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. Look closely at the image and you’ll notice how the architecture is meticulously rendered. Pen and ink is a medium that demands precision; each line requires careful consideration. The artist's hand and skill are very apparent. The dense cross-hatching creates depth and shadow, giving the illusion of three-dimensionality on a flat surface. The choice of pen and ink as a medium is interesting. It's not a medium associated with rapid production or mass consumption, but it’s interesting to compare with the processes of industrial reproduction that were developing at the time. The work involved in creating such a detailed drawing emphasizes the value of the artist's skill, labor, and time, as well as drawing attention to the historical importance of the Porta Maggiore. Ultimately, understanding the material and the artist's technique allows us to appreciate the work on a much deeper level. It prompts us to think about the relationship between art, labor, and the value we place on handmade versus machine-made objects.