Title plate from Carceri d'Invenzione c. 1761

This title plate from Giovanni Battista Piranesi’s *Carceri d’Invenzione* (c. 1761) depicts a fantastical, architectural prison with a network of winding staircases, bridges, and massive blocks of stone. The image is rendered in Piranesi's signature etching technique, known for its intricate details and dramatic use of light and shadow. This series of 16 prints explores themes of imprisonment and the power of the imagination, inspiring later artists like Salvador Dalí and M.C. Escher. The plate itself features a central inscription identifying the artist and the title of the series. The scene’s overwhelming scale and sense of claustrophobia have made these prints iconic examples of Romanticism and architectural fantasy.