Thermen van Trajanus te Rome 1745

"Thermen van Trajanus te Rome", an etching by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, depicts the ruins of the Baths of Titus, a Roman bath complex built in the 1st century AD. The work shows a picturesque view of the arches, creating a sense of grandeur and decay. Piranesi was a master of etching, his detailed and dramatic representations of ancient Roman architecture, like the Thermae of Titus, are considered masterpieces of 18th-century printmaking. This print, from 1745, showcases Piranesi’s signature style, emphasizing the magnificence of past civilizations, while hinting at the passage of time and the ephemeral nature of human creations.