Ruïne van het Amfitheater van Bordeaux before 1841

Friedrich Salathé made this print of the Ruïne van het Amfitheater van Bordeaux at an unknown date. It captures the remnants of a Roman amphitheater, a symbol of ancient power, now integrated into the fabric of a 19th-century French town. The image offers a fascinating glimpse into the relationship between the past and present. The ruins, once a site of public spectacle, are juxtaposed with contemporary buildings and figures. This contrast prompts us to consider how societies grapple with their historical legacies. The choice to depict the amphitheater in its dilapidated state also raises questions about institutional memory. What does it mean for a society to preserve or neglect its historical monuments? The answer can be found in archives, historical societies, and public records offices, where social and institutional contexts can give meaning to the art of the past.