The Pier with a Lamp, from "Carceri d'invenzione" (Imaginary Prisons) 1744 - 1755

"The Pier with a Lamp," an etching from Giovanni Battista Piranesi's "Carceri d'invenzione" (Imaginary Prisons) series, depicts a fantastical architectural structure. The composition features a complex network of arches and columns, suggesting an underground prison. A large lamp hangs from the ceiling, casting dramatic shadows across the scene, creating a sense of mystery and unease. Piranesi's etching style, with its meticulous detail and use of light and shade, evokes a sense of both grandeur and claustrophobia, characteristic of his "Carceri" series.