Brokstukken van het amfitheater van Arles 1875 - 1885

This is a photograph of “Brokstukken van het amfitheater van Arles” (or, “Fragments of the Amphitheater of Arles”) by Charles Lenormand. Without precise dates, we can still appreciate this image as a 19th-century view of ancient ruins, seen through the then-new medium of photography. The remnants of the Roman amphitheater are presented amidst contemporary buildings, creating a juxtaposition of past and present. Consider the role of the artist here: Lenormand's choice to capture this scene invites reflections on time, memory, and cultural identity. Who determines what aspects of history are preserved? There is an emotional dimension too, as the ruins evoke a sense of melancholy. These fragments tell silent stories of human activity that once filled the arena. The ruins are a physical manifestation of the passage of time, inviting viewers to contemplate the transient nature of human achievement. How might these ruins remind us of the ever-changing nature of cultural memory?