Profile of wheelchair 

Curator: This etching by Giovanni Battista Piranesi depicts what's described as the profile of a "Curule Sedia" from the Piranesi museum. I'm struck by its imposing and peculiar form; it looks like a throne for a Roman deity who had an affinity for canines. Editor: Yes, that's an intriguing observation! At first glance, the hybridity is striking - the regal seat conjoined with that canine form seems incredibly strange. Given the nature of Piranesi's other engravings, I’m also stuck by a curious tension: a tension between fidelity to antiquity and individual imagination. Curator: Absolutely. The Lupas flanking the sides suggest the she-wolf of Rome and that nod to classical symbols is evident. We know Piranesi heavily studied Roman antiquity and often incorporated familiar Roman architectural components and features into his work, but the choice to integrate them with such strange zoomorphic, hybrid forms—well, that's open for interpretation. Editor: And doesn't the print subtly challenge traditional historical representation? The etching, although appearing factual and almost mechanical with its labels “A”, “B”, “C”, could very well be based on speculation more than faithful rendering. I'd argue that he's prompting the viewer to reconsider the role of monuments, too. By combining realistic, architecturally precise elements with pure fantasy, he makes us question the line between objective fact and subjective interpretation. Curator: I see what you mean. There's this implied skepticism that becomes characteristic of later historical thought. Perhaps by presenting this kind of fantastical recreation as an objective, verifiable document, Piranesi encourages critical engagement rather than blind acceptance of established narratives. It could also symbolize the cultural memory we attach to ancient power, filtered through shifting perceptions. Editor: In any case, "Profile of Wheelchair"—or should we say "Profile of the Curule Sedia?"—proves that there's no such thing as a simple act of historical reproduction!