Interior of the Pantheon c. 18th century

Curator: Isn’t there something almost dizzying about Piranesi’s "Interior of the Pantheon?" The vastness of it, captured in etching, feels both precise and a little fantastical. Editor: It's a calculated grandeur. Note how the oculus, that single source of light, functions as a point of control, orchestrating the social space beneath. The figures seem almost staged. Curator: Staged, maybe, but the light seems to democratize the space. Everyone, from the kneeling to the standing, is bathed in it. It's a reminder that even the most imposing structures are, at their heart, human. Editor: I see your point, but I can't shake the feeling that this depiction is less about genuine inclusivity and more about projecting an idealized, even romanticized, vision of societal harmony under patriarchal architecture. Curator: Well, regardless, Piranesi captured something enduring, the echo of humanity in a space meant to inspire awe. Editor: Indeed, it serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between power, representation, and the human experience within architectural spaces.