Three fragments found in the Villa Adriana in Tivoli (inc F Piranesi) 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi created this etching of three architectural fragments found at Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli. The image captures the texture and form of these classical ruins, likely made from marble, through fine, detailed lines. Piranesi’s printmaking process, a labor-intensive method of engraving and etching, is itself central to understanding the work. The deep blacks and crisp whites emphasize the contrast between light and shadow on the fragments. The images transform the ancient stone into something reproducible, distributed, and ultimately consumed. The act of drawing and engraving freezes these objects in time, giving new life to them through the printmaking process. Piranesi invites us to consider the original process, the immense labor involved in the first creation of the monuments, and the social and economic structures that enabled their creation. He invites the viewer to reflect on the labor of the ancient sculptors, alongside his own work in documenting their creations.