Tweede gezicht op de Thermen van Diocletianus c. 1561 - 1600

"Tweede gezicht op de Thermen van Diocletianus" or "Second View of the Baths of Diocletian", is an etching made by Johannes or Lucas van Doetechum. It shows the ruins of the ancient Baths of Diocletian. Look closely, and you'll notice the contrast between the grand, decaying architecture and the small figures scattered among the ruins. These details reveal a society grappling with its relationship to the past. This image reflects the historical and cultural context of the time, when the ruins of Rome served as a powerful reminder of the past grandeur and the present state of decline. It evokes a sense of nostalgia, of reflecting on what once was. Van Doetechum’s work invites us to consider the cyclical nature of history. In a way it asks, what do we learn from the fragments of the civilizations that came before us? This piece offers a poignant meditation on the passage of time and the enduring power of memory.