Ruïnes van de Thermen van Diocletianus 1675 - 1711

This print, depicting the ruins of the Baths of Diocletian, uses etching to create a landscape dominated by architectural remains. Arches and crumbling walls form a repetitive, rhythmic structure across the composition, and the delicate hatching suggests texture and depth, while a vast sky looms above. The use of linear perspective emphasizes the scale of the ruins and creates a sense of space, drawing the eye through the arches to the horizon. The figures in the foreground, rendered with quick, light strokes, underscore the monumentality of the ruins, while the calculated arrangement of light and shadow gives the etching a structured yet atmospheric quality. By focusing on the formal qualities, the print transforms the ruins into a study of line, texture, and form, reflecting the Enlightenment's interest in classical architecture and its decay, prompting viewers to reflect on themes of time, loss, and the sublime.