Roman Ruin (Ruine romaine) 

Alphonse Legros created this etching called 'Roman Ruin' during a period of significant social change and artistic development in Europe. Legros, a French-born artist who later became a British citizen, lived through a time of rapid industrialization and urbanization. This print reflects a growing interest in the past, particularly classical antiquity, which was often seen as a source of order and beauty in a rapidly changing world. Legros presents us with a landscape marked by the passage of time and the decay of civilization. The ruin, overgrown with vegetation, exists almost as a melancholic reminder of human transience. Legros’ choice of etching, a medium known for its detailed lines and tonal subtleties, enhances the image's sense of depth and texture. The sharp lines capture the rough surfaces of the stone and the wildness of the overgrowth. He seems to be asking us to reflect on the relationship between past and present, and on the ways in which nature reclaims what was once human.