Design for Trompe l'Oeil Cupola n.d.

This is an anonymous design for a trompe l'oeil cupola, made with pen and brown ink, and brown wash over graphite. Architectural drawings such as these reflect the culture and politics of their time, revealing who had the power to commission and enjoy such designs. Consider how architectural spaces are not neutral; they embody social hierarchies and cultural values. The grandeur suggested by this cupola points to a society that valued opulence and the illusion of boundless space, often reserved for the elite. This drawing invites us to think about the labor and resources required to create such elaborate structures, and who benefited from them. The technique of trompe l'oeil itself is a kind of trickery, playing with perception and reality. As you look at the drawing, reflect on how the promise of the cupola—its implied vastness and beauty—might evoke feelings of aspiration. Think about how architecture affects our sense of place, identity, and belonging.