Near la Cava, from Suite de IV Vues Dessinées Dans le Roiaume de Naples 1779

This print, made by Jacob Philipp Hackert, is from a suite of views drawn in the Kingdom of Naples. It was made using etching, a printmaking process where a metal plate is coated with a waxy resist, and the design is then scratched into this coating. The plate is submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed metal, creating lines. These lines hold ink, and when pressed onto paper, they transfer the image. The etching process allows for fine, detailed lines, evident in the depiction of the leaves, the rocky landscape, and the figures of the people and animals. The physical labor involved is considerable; from preparing the metal plate, to applying the resist, to the careful scratching of the design, the acid etching, inking, and finally the printing itself. This process reflects the economic realities of art production in the 18th century, where skilled labor was essential to creating visually appealing images.