The Sawhorse, from "Carceri d'invenzione" (Imaginary Prisons) 1744 - 1755

Giovanni Battista Piranesi created "The Sawhorse" as part of his "Imaginary Prisons" series. The etching teems with labyrinthine architecture, evoking feelings of awe and claustrophobia. Piranesi masterfully uses line to create depth and detail. The crisscrossing of lines in the arches and vaults creates a complex interplay of light and shadow, enhancing the nightmarish quality. The monumental scale of the architecture dwarfs the tiny figures, emphasizing the overwhelming and oppressive nature of the space. The sawhorse in the foreground adds a touch of the mundane, contrasting with the fantastical setting. Piranesi challenges Enlightenment ideals of reason and order by creating an irrational space that upends conventional perspective, reflecting anxieties about power and confinement. The print invites us to reflect on the darker aspects of the human condition.