Interieur van badhuis in Castel Gandolfo 1764

Giovanni Battista Piranesi made this print of the ‘Interior of a Bathhouse in Castel Gandolfo’ using etching. Piranesi lived in the 18th century, a time of rediscovering and reimagining classical antiquity, and his work reflects this fascination. His dramatic, detailed style helped fuel the Neoclassical movement. Yet, Piranesi’s work wasn’t merely about historical accuracy, but rather about evoking the emotional weight of history. Look at the figures scattered within the cavernous space; they seem dwarfed by the architecture, which speaks to the power of the past to shape human experience. His series of etchings capture both the grandeur and the decay of Roman structures. This wasn't just documentation, but a commentary on the passage of time, and the relationship between past glory and present reality. He shows the ruins inhabited, re-purposed by ordinary people. Piranesi captures the layers of history, and how the past continues to live in the present.