Vedute di Roma 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi created this etching, Vedute di Roma, as part of a series depicting Rome’s architectural marvels. Piranesi was working in the 18th century, a period shaped by the Enlightenment and the rediscovery of classical antiquity. His series captured Rome’s monuments as symbols of historical continuity and imperial grandeur. But, what does it mean to look back to ancient civilizations as a marker of progress? Piranesi emphasizes emotional experience through dramatic lighting, scale, and perspective. His Rome is more than just stone; it's an evocation of power. The grand pyramid of Cestius is a striking presence, standing not only as a monument to a man but also as a testament to Rome's global reach. Note how the artist positions the Roman figures in relation to the pyramid. Are they dwarfed by it, or are they active participants in the landscape? Piranesi's Rome is a stage, inviting us to ponder how the past shapes the present. His etchings are a call to remember, to feel, and to question the narratives that surround us.