Vedute di Roma 

Editor: This print, titled *Vedute di Roma*, or "Views of Rome," is an engraving by Giovanni Battista Piranesi. I'm really struck by the immensity of the architecture and the sheer amount of detail in the cityscape. What jumps out at you? Curator: It's fascinating, isn’t it? Piranesi wasn’t just documenting Rome; he was reimagining it, exaggerating its grandeur, almost to the point of theatricality. It’s as if he's saying, "Behold, the eternal city, even grander than you imagined!" It reminds me a bit of stage design, all drama and perspective tricks. Editor: So, you think he was embellishing quite a bit? I guess it does look a bit like a set. Curator: Perhaps. Piranesi definitely plays with light and shadow to create mood, making even familiar landmarks feel a bit… overwhelming. He layers the composition with these intricate details. It's like he's hinting at stories, don't you think? The little scenes with people almost look like snapshots in time, scattered through history. They give life to the architecture. Editor: That’s interesting. It does feel like he's collapsing time in a way. You have these figures that seem almost contemporary alongside ancient ruins. Curator: Exactly! And look closely at the crumbling textures of the stones; you sense history, decay, rebirth… Editor: This makes me look at it in a whole new way. It's not just a view, but an interpretation. Thanks for this great insight! Curator: My pleasure! It seems we've both been bitten by Piranesi's vision of Rome, wouldn’t you agree?