The Roman antiquities, t. 1, Plate XXXIV. Veduta with Arch of Titus. 1756

Curator: Piranesi's 1756 etching, "The Roman Antiquities, t. 1, Plate XXXIV. Veduta with Arch of Titus," presents us with a striking vista. What's your initial impression? Editor: Stark. Monumental, of course, but there's a bleakness to it. The shadows are so deep; they nearly devour the details of the stonework. It's more ruin than triumph, it seems. Curator: Indeed. The crumbling architecture speaks to the ravages of time. Look closely at Piranesi’s etching technique; he masterfully uses line and shadow to depict not just the physical structures but also the weight of history pressing down on them. How do you think this detailed depiction contributes to our understanding? Editor: Consider the arch itself: erected to commemorate Titus's victory in the Jewish War. Its imagery – menorahs, spoils of war – are powerful symbols, laden with trauma and conquest that resonates even now. Piranesi captured more than architecture, he captured cultural memory, and its distortions over time. The etchwork reveals an empire built through the consumption and control of labour. Notice, also, the figures that make up the labor for this piece – Piranesi wasn't just interested in the grandeur of the arch, but in representing Rome's relationship to production. Curator: Fascinating points. Let's not overlook how Piranesi utilized printmaking. As a medium, etching is significant here; a fairly reproducible means for wider distribution of Roman ideals across Europe – transforming architecture and triumphal imagery into accessible commodities. The contrast he creates also emphasises a drama through light. Editor: Precisely, those contrasts. I think it's a lament; a visual representation of vanished glories and the shadows of their impact that linger into our modern period. Curator: Agreed. The echoes of history – tangible, unsettling. It forces us to confront what’s lost and the ways our past informs us. Editor: It's a profound work that reminds us to always be mindful of where materials are being sourced.