Gezicht op het Piazza Navona te Rome, Italië 1851 - 1900

This photograph captures the Piazza Navona in Rome, though the artist remains anonymous. This visual record transports us to a moment in time, inviting reflection on the history and representation embedded in this iconic public space. Piazza Navona was built on the site of the Stadium of Domitian. Its transformation into a baroque square involved powerful patrons like the Pamphilj family. At its center is the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers), designed by Bernini. This piece allegorically represents major rivers from four continents – the Nile, Ganges, Danube, and Río de la Plata. How do we consider the representation of the continents and their peoples during the colonial era? What does it mean to see these rivers, central to civilizations and trade, rendered as figures in a European square? This photograph reminds us to consider the complex layers of history, power, and representation in art. It encourages us to examine both the beauty of the square and the narratives it embodies.