Demonstration of a large pedestal base of the Trajan`s Column 

This is Giovanni Battista Piranesi's etching of the base of Trajan's Column, made sometime in the 18th century. Piranesi lived in Venice and Rome during a time when the grandeur of antiquity was being rediscovered. His work isn't just about showing us Roman architecture; it reflects the complex relationship between history, power, and identity. Consider the base of Trajan's Column. It is a symbol of Roman imperial power, built to commemorate Emperor Trajan's victory in the Dacian Wars. Piranesi meticulously documents the column, which is an act of preservation, but also one of interpretation. He emphasizes the monumentality and the detailed carvings, inviting viewers to reflect on the layers of history embedded in this structure. What does it mean to look back at such symbols of power? How do we grapple with the legacies of conquest and empire that they represent? Piranesi's etching prompts us to consider these questions. The artist invites us to think about who gets to write history. What is remembered and what is forgotten?