A Partial View of Rome 1766

Editor: This is Franz Edmund Weirotter's "A Partial View of Rome," an etching. The scene is quite idyllic, with a watermill and figures fishing. I'm curious about what stands out to you in this piece? Curator: I see the careful rendering of the stone and water, showing us the material reality of 18th-century Rome and the labor involved. Consider the social implications of the mill, a site of production. How does that influence your interpretation of the "idyllic" scene? Editor: It suggests a different kind of story, one about work, power, and how resources are used. Thanks, I hadn't considered that! Curator: Reflecting on the etcher's work helps us understand his relationship with the city, not just as a tourist but as a recorder of its industry. Editor: I see that now. Looking at it through the lens of materials and labor changes the whole picture.