Half-naked dancer, taken from a painting of ancient Pompeii 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi created this etching of a half-naked dancer in the 1700s, after a painting discovered in the ruins of Pompeii. Piranesi didn't just copy the ancient painting, but he translated it into a language of line. The material qualities of the etching—the crispness, the gradations of tone, and the sheer precision—all heighten the dancer's form. Look closely and you'll see the tremendous amount of work involved in the production process, with each tiny line etched into the metal plate to create the image. The image also speaks to the burgeoning field of archaeology during this period. As artifacts were unearthed, they were often reproduced and disseminated through prints like this one, and this speaks to the complex relationship between labor, politics, and consumption in the 18th century. By emphasizing these materials, making, and context, we gain a richer understanding of this artwork, blurring the lines between fine art, craft, and commercial production.