Façade van Collegio de Propaganda Fide after 1655

This print by Giovanni Battista Falda shows the façade of the Collegio de Propaganda Fide in Rome, documented with ink on paper. It is an example of the printmaker's art, a relatively democratic medium when compared to painted frescoes and carved facades. Look closely, and you can see the crisp lines achieved by the printmaking process, probably etching or engraving. The precision and detail speak to Falda's skill as a draughtsman, capable of capturing the architectural nuances of the building. The architectural design reflects a careful balance between the aesthetic and the functional, mirroring the cultural values of the time. Printmaking relies on the division of labor; someone has to make the plate, someone to ink it, someone to operate the press. In that sense, the image is a result of industrial-scale production. This print is not just an image, but an outcome of craft and social context.