View of the facade of the Basilica of St. John Lateran 

Editor: This is "View of the facade of the Basilica of St. John Lateran," an etching by Giovanni Battista Piranesi. It presents a cityscape dominated by grand architecture, but there’s this stark contrast between the detailed facade and what seems like rubble in the foreground. What’s your take on this print? Curator: This contrast grabs our attention precisely because Piranesi's labor invested into portraying such grandeur of the church meets the image of a society that isn't perfect, maybe struggling or under construction. It asks us to look closely at what constitutes our cultural production, to consider that its beautiful results are always created out of material conditions of the physical world, right? Consider also the technical process itself; the lines of the etching, so meticulously laid down, are themselves a testament to human labor. Editor: That makes sense. So the medium and the labor involved in its production are as important as the subject itself? Curator: Exactly. It challenges the traditional hierarchy of art where the “idea” reigns supreme. We see not just a church, but also the means of representing that church. Also consider how Piranesi utilizes and manipulates perspective. Does that seem 'natural' to your eyes, or might it reflect a commentary on power or how we view religious institutions? Is the Church a kind of towering structure, dominating the daily affairs of citizens represented on the ground level? Editor: Now that you mention it, there's definitely a power dynamic at play in how he represents space and form here. Curator: Precisely. And it makes you question not only what he portrays but the role of such architectural endeavors. So how does that then shape your reading of his image of the Roman cityscape here? Editor: I never thought about an image this way, by seeing the social layers and labour involved and their meaning in terms of what is portrayed! Thanks! Curator: And, the interplay between labor, perspective, and social critique – a constant negotiation, indeed!