Città universitaria Roma 1986

Gunther Forg's black and white photograph captures a building at the Città universitaria in Rome, presenting us with a stark architectural facade. The windows, structured in rigid geometric patterns, dominate the composition, evoking a sense of order and rationality, yet also confinement. The window, as a symbol, carries a rich history. In early Renaissance paintings, a window might frame a distant landscape, representing hope and possibility. Here, the windows offer a view into another world, a liminal space, and connect this structure to the architectural tradition of the early twentieth century. The facade itself, with its unadorned surfaces, speaks to the Modernist architectural movement. The image invites a psychoanalytic reading; the rigid structure of the building could represent the oppressive constraints of institutional power, while the slightly opened awning hints at a longing for freedom. Forg's photograph reveals how architectural forms and the symbols they embody echo through time, carrying layered meanings and psychological resonance.