Ruïnes van de Thermen van Caracalla te Rome 1575

Editor: This etching by Étienne Dupérac, created around 1575, captures the "Ruins of the Baths of Caracalla in Rome." The meticulous linework and vastness of the ruins give it a sense of melancholic grandeur. What story does this image tell about Rome and its place in the 16th century imagination? Curator: Well, remember Rome’s symbolic weight during the Renaissance. Dupérac’s print is not just a depiction of ruins; it's a statement about history, power, and the changing urban landscape. Editor: How so? Curator: Consider the audience. These prints circulated among elites, architects, and antiquarians. They weren't just looking at pretty pictures, they were engaging with Rome's past to inform their present. The depiction of ruins underscores the decline of the Roman empire. Dupérac's decision to include people also brings a dimension of scale to highlight its splendor and importance in the history of art and urban spaces. What is your understanding of Rome in this period? Editor: I guess I always assumed Rome was only a reference for great architecture at the time. Curator: It's more complicated than that. The ruined Caracalla, presented through printmaking, also suggests ideas of lost power alongside human hubris and decline in society and moral standards. Do you agree that it’s also a political image about cultural identity? Editor: I see your point! This print shows the transformation of Roman history into a kind of public spectacle through art. Curator: Exactly. And understanding that transformation, and how images participate in it, helps us understand the art and politics of imagery that resonates even today.