Gezicht op de Tempel van Hadrianus 1758

Jacques Philippe Le Bas created this etching called 'Gezicht op de Tempel van Hadrianus' sometime in the 18th century. This work emerged during a period when the Grand Tour was fashionable, and there was increased interest in classical antiquity. Le Bas's depiction of the Temple of Hadrian is more than just a visual record. It invites us to consider how history and empire were viewed through a European lens. The temple, a symbol of Roman power, is presented here as a ruin. This imagery evokes themes of decline and the transient nature of human achievement. Consider too how gender and class dynamics are subtly embedded within the artwork. While the temple speaks of public, masculine power, the figures in the foreground, rendered on a much smaller scale, offer a counterpoint. They represent the everyday lives that continue amidst these grand historical narratives. The image prompts a dialogue between the grandeur of the past and the ever-changing present. Le Bas captures a moment of reflection on power, time, and human existence.