Boog van Septimius Severus 1675 - 1711

This etching depicts the Arch of Septimius Severus, situated in the Roman Forum, by an anonymous artist. The print captures the arch not in its full, original glory, but as a ruin. Consider this image as a commentary on power, legacy, and the passage of time. Septimius Severus, a Roman emperor of North African descent, rose to power during a period of civil unrest. The arch was erected to commemorate his military victories, a display of imperial might. Yet, the image presents a contrasting narrative – the empire's monuments, once symbols of dominance, are now decaying structures. How does it feel to see such a display of power reduced to rubble? This invites us to reflect on the transience of power and the complex relationship between identity, history, and cultural memory. Does the depiction offer a critique of imperial ambition, or a melancholic meditation on the impermanence of human achievement?