Gezicht in het Colloseum te Rome, Italië 1851 - 1900

Ludovico Tuminello captured this view of the Colosseum in Rome with photography. Arches dominate this image. A symbol of Roman engineering prowess, the arch speaks of strength, stability, and the ambition of an empire that sought to bridge distances, both physical and metaphorical. This architectural element appears across time, from ancient aqueducts to Renaissance cathedrals, and even in modern infrastructure. Yet, here, in the Colosseum, the arch takes on a darker resonance. It frames not a gateway to progress, but rather the stage for spectacles of violence and death. The Colosseum, with its arched entrances and exits, became a conduit for human drama, channeling the energy of the crowds and the fates of the gladiators. Consider how such a structure could tap into our deepest fears and desires, becoming a vessel for collective memory. The arch, therefore, is not just stone, but an enduring echo of human experience. Its cyclical presence throughout history invites us to contemplate how we, as viewers, participate in the ever-evolving narrative of symbols.