Twee mannen uit Trastevere in gevecht 1819

This print, depicting two men fighting in Trastevere, was made by Bartolomeo Pinelli, using etching, sometime around the late 18th or early 19th century. Etching is an intaglio printmaking technique, where a metal plate is coated with a waxy, acid-resistant substance. The artist scratches an image into the coating, then the plate is bathed in acid. The acid bites into the exposed metal, creating lines. The plate is then inked, and the ink held in the etched lines is transferred to paper under high pressure in a printing press. The graphic nature of the print medium lends itself well to depicting the tensions of daily life, especially for those outside the upper classes. Here, the material and process come together to record the raw energy of a street brawl. The etched lines, though delicate, convey a sense of immediacy, mirroring the urgency of the depicted conflict. This print offers us a glimpse into the world of ordinary people, and invites us to consider the stories behind their struggles.