Third View of the Colosseum c. 1550

"Third View of the Colosseum" is an engraving made by Hieronymus Cock in the 16th century. It captures the Colosseum not in its ancient glory, but as a ruin, a stage for everyday life. The engraving reflects a time of great social and religious upheaval, when European identity was being reshaped by the Renaissance and the Reformation. The Colosseum, once a symbol of Roman power, is here a space where the past literally crumbles into the present. Look closely, and you'll see small figures going about their daily lives amongst the ruins, their presence creating a contrast between the grandeur of the past and the realities of the present. This juxtaposition invites us to consider how we engage with history, and who gets to shape the narratives we tell ourselves about the past. How do we negotiate what remains of monuments built on exploitation, violence, and the erasure of identity? This is the tension that the artwork leaves us with, a sense of reflection on the passage of time and the stories we choose to carry forward.