Grot genaamd 'Il Bergantino' bij Meer van Albano 1762

Giovanni Battista Piranesi made this print of a cave, called 'Il Bergantino' at Lake Albano. Piranesi was working during a time when the Grand Tour was popular, which meant wealthy Europeans, often men, traveled around Europe, especially Italy, to learn about art and culture. Here, Piranesi imagines the grotto as a sublime and awe-inspiring space. However, it's important to remember that these images often romanticized the reality of labor and life for the working class. Who were these figures inhabiting this space? What were their stories? Piranesi leaves them anonymous, part of the picturesque scene, but their presence reminds us of the complex social hierarchies that shaped 18th-century Europe. Piranesi encourages us to reflect on the layers of history, power, and representation that are embedded in our experience of the world.