Opstand van de façade van het Palazzo Carrega-Cataldi te Genua 1622

Nicolaes Ryckmans created this rendering of the Palazzo Carrega-Cataldi in Genoa, Italy. Though we don’t have a firm date, Ryckmans was active during a time when architecture was not just about building, but about expressing status and power. Consider for a moment, the concept of the “façade” itself. It's not merely the front of a building, but a carefully constructed image presented to the world. What does it mean for a building, like a person, to present a certain face to society? Here, the symmetrical, orderly design speaks volumes about the values of the elite class who resided within its walls. The very act of documenting and disseminating architectural designs through prints allowed for the widespread adoption of these styles, reinforcing existing hierarchies, as well as dictating very specific social norms and ideals. This image then, becomes more than just a depiction of a building; it's a reflection of the power structures embedded in the society of its time.