Restanten van een badhuis in Pompeï c. 1860 - 1900

This photograph of the remnants of a bathhouse in Pompeii was taken by Roberto Rive in the late 19th century. The composition captures the stark geometry of what remains: an archway, eroded walls, and fragmented frescoes. The limited tonal range emphasizes the texture of the aged stone and plaster. Rive’s photograph invites us to consider the semiotics of ruins. The image is not simply a record but an engagement with time, history, and the aesthetics of decay. The formal qualities of the photograph—the contrast between light and shadow, the careful arrangement of architectural elements—contribute to its impact. Consider the way Rive frames the subject. It prompts us to reflect on the enduring human impulse to document and make sense of the past. The image becomes a meditation on the relationship between past and present and the role of the photographer in mediating our understanding.