Roman column 

Editor: We’re looking at a pen and ink drawing of a Roman column from the Städel Museum, by Karl Ballenberger. I’m really struck by the column's base – it appears to be supported by hands! What is your take on this work? Curator: Well, looking at it from a historical perspective, it appears to be less a factual record and more an exercise. It explores themes of support and elevation. The drawing showcases the column, but with hands added to the base – which introduce a political and social subtext. Editor: A political subtext? Curator: Yes, what I mean to say is, how do these 'hands' affect the interpretation? Are they hands of laborers, who literally hold society up? Or, does the column now signify a kind of weightiness, a burden on the populace? We should think about where it would appear: was it in a public space? If so, its message might shift based on how the public interpreted the symbol, its imagery. How does the 'weight' of history get represented in the built environment? Editor: That's fascinating. It completely changes how I view this, as if it’s less a representation of ancient grandeur and more of a commentary on social power. So the role and placement of the image contributes as much as its lines. Curator: Exactly. What Ballenberger is representing can be interpreted in any way based on a lot of different variables. I see now the hands may indicate the column’s history! Editor: It’s amazing how a simple addition like the hands transforms the column's whole meaning. I’ll certainly think of that weight of history from now on!