Thermen van Caracalla, van buiten 1680

This engraving, "Thermen van Caracalla, van buiten," depicts the exterior ruins of the Baths of Caracalla. Created by an anonymous artist, it gives us a glimpse into how the remnants of ancient Rome were perceived and documented during a period of renewed interest in classical antiquity. The Baths of Caracalla were a significant public space in ancient Rome, serving not only as a place for bathing but also as a center for social interaction and leisure. The engraving captures the scale of the ruins, emphasizing their enduring presence within the landscape, with small figures included to give a sense of scale. This image, and others like it, reflect a tension between reverence for the past and the realities of the present. The romantic depiction of decay invites viewers to reflect on themes of empire, time, and the transience of human achievement, while offering a lens through which to consider contemporary society’s relationship to its own history.