A View of the Column of Trajan (above) with Details (below) 1690 - 1704

Jan Goeree created "A View of the Column of Trajan (above) with Details (below)" using pen and gray ink with gray wash, sometime between 1670 and 1731. Goeree's rendering offers more than just a visual record. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the depiction of Roman antiquities was part of a broader cultural and political dialogue about power, history, and identity. The classical world was often seen as a model for contemporary society. In particular, the exploration of ancient Rome served as a means for artists to reflect on contemporary issues of governance and social order. It prompts questions about the legacies we choose to preserve and how we interpret the narratives they embody. The original Column of Trajan was designed to commemorate military victory, but Goeree's drawing encourages us to consider the perspectives of those who were conquered, whose stories are often marginalized or absent in such triumphant displays. How does our engagement with historical monuments shape our understanding of both the past and present?