Panorama van de stad Rome (midden deel) 1743 - 1803

Giovanni Volpato created this segment of the “Panorama of the city of Rome” using etching techniques, sometime in the late 18th century. Volpato’s Rome exists in the twilight between the grand, imperial, and papal city and the modern capital. During his lifetime, Rome was a popular destination for artists and intellectuals from across Europe, drawn to its rich history, architecture, and artistic treasures. In this vista, we don't see the bustling streets or intimate moments of daily life, but a cleaned-up, idealized version of the city. The elevated perspective flattens the social dynamics, turning the city into a picturesque scene, consumed from afar. The people are diminutive, almost incidental to the grandeur of the architecture. There’s a sense of distance, not just physical, but also social and emotional. What does it mean to flatten a place, to render it as a consumable image? The experience of viewing is one of detached observation rather than lived participation.