Greek theatre, Taormina 

Giuseppe Bruno made this photograph of the Greek theatre in Taormina. The sepia tones recall the traditional photographic printing processes of the late 19th century. But what about the original making of the theatre? The ancient Greeks had a sophisticated understanding of quarrying, shaping, and assembling stone. The architecture displays knowledge of engineering principles that allowed them to create these lasting structures. Consider also the amount of labor involved. Skilled artisans and laborers worked together to extract the stone, transport it, and carve it into precise shapes. It’s truly an integrated artwork, reliant on different levels of society. Whether we’re looking at an ancient theater, or a photograph made over two millennia later, thinking about the materials and the processes and the social context opens up a deeper understanding of the work itself.