Thermen van Caracalla 1639

This etching, “Thermen van Caracalla,” was created by Bartholomeus Breenbergh in the 17th century, a time when European artists were captivated by the grandeur and decay of Roman antiquity. Breenbergh, part of a group of Dutch artists in Rome, reflects a deep sense of history and perhaps, a commentary on the transient nature of power. The figures in the foreground invite us to consider our own place in the historical narrative; are we merely observers, or are we also part of the ongoing story of civilization? The etching is more than just a landscape; it's an emotional space where past and present converge, inviting reflections on the passage of time, the legacies we inherit, and the ruins we may leave behind.