Bologna, Italy 1904

Donald Shaw MacLaughlan created this print of Bologna using etching sometime around 1910. Here, we see an Italian city crowned with a church, a common motif throughout art history, symbolizing spiritual authority and the celestial realm. The church’s commanding presence reminds us of its enduring power, echoing its depiction in countless Renaissance paintings. Think of the Duomo in Florence, or Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome, each asserting its dominance over the urban landscape. This architectural assertion reflects a deep, subconscious need for stability and order. Yet, the somewhat obscured dome in the left background is suggestive of secular power. The dome is derived from ancient Roman architecture and appears often in the iconography of power, such as in portraiture of rulers. Notice how this symbol is diminished behind the church. It is through this dialectic that we are reminded of art's power to engage our emotions on a profound level.