Zicht op het Forum van Nerva 1720 - 1748

Philothée François Duflos made this print, "Zicht op het Forum van Nerva," using etching, a process where lines are incised into a metal plate with acid, then inked and pressed onto paper. The etching process itself invites a certain kind of precision. You can see it in the detail of the architecture, the regular lines of the stonework, the carefully delineated forms of the buildings. Duflos's technique also reveals a tension between the grand, permanent aspirations of architecture and the more fragile nature of paper. Look closely, and you’ll see that the stark black lines give a sense of the strong sunlight beating down on the old roman site. The image becomes more than just a record; it's an interpretation, inviting us to consider the relationship between time, material, and memory. By focusing on the process and material of this print, we gain a deeper understanding, and it prompts us to question traditional distinctions between documentation and artistic expression.