Plattegrond van Parma, 1726 1726

This is an anonymous 1726 engraving showing the map of Parma. Consider the city walls, for example, rigid and sharp. They are a symbol of a city's defense, but also a more general sense of security and stability. They appear not only on maps such as this one, but also in paintings depicting sieges, acting as a backdrop that signifies the city's strength. Now, see how it is surrounded by rivers, not only for defense but as a vital source of life? Think of the ancient civilizations in Mesopotamia, where life revolved around the Tigris and Euphrates. The river motif flows through art history, symbolizing purity and renewal, from ancient Egyptian art to Renaissance paintings like Baptism of Christ. In art, water often represents the unconscious—its depths and mysteries. The river bisecting Parma, therefore, invites reflection on the city’s collective psyche, a space where the past merges with the present. These symbols reveal the enduring human need for security, continuity, and understanding, echoing through time in a non-linear, cyclical progression, evolving and taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.