View in Fisheye perspective of a Hall with Columns and Cross Rib Vaulting 1605 - 1615

Hans Pesser made this engraving of a grand hall with columns and cross-rib vaulting sometime in the 17th century. It presents a world of power and perspective, reflecting the artist’s own position and the cultural norms of his time. During the Baroque era, class distinctions were visually reinforced through art and architecture. Pesser’s detailed rendering of the hall uses a fisheye perspective that exaggerates the size and scale of the architecture, emphasizing the grandeur and power associated with such spaces. The figures, dwarfed by their surroundings, highlight the social hierarchy and their place within this world. Pesser’s technique invites us to reflect on the emotional distance between the viewer and the world depicted, as well as on the societal structures that shape our perceptions of space and belonging. Through this visual exercise, the artwork becomes a lens for considering our own relationship to the spaces we inhabit and the power dynamics they represent.