Gezicht op een plein met monumentale bouwwerken 1547 - 1578

Joannes van (I) Doetechum etched this square with monumental buildings sometime before 1605. The towering structures loom large, their facades adorned with classical motifs—columns, arches, and statues. These elements speak to a desire to connect with the grandeur of antiquity, a Renaissance fascination. Notice the dog in the foreground. Often, in Renaissance art, dogs symbolized fidelity and vigilance, qualities cherished in civic life. But the dog motif carries a longer history. Think back to ancient Roman mosaics, where canine figures guarded thresholds. In this print, this creature stands alert, perhaps mirroring our own attentiveness as viewers, drawn into the scene's intricate details. This link between the domestic and the monumental engages us on a primal level. The buildings' imposing presence is softened by the dog's familiar form, creating a sense of grounded wonder. It's a visual echo resonating through centuries, and in our subconscious.