Gezicht op de stadsmuur van Taormina 1862 - 1876

Jean Andrieu captured this stereoscopic view of the city walls of Taormina with photography, a relatively new medium at the time, sometime before 1872. The walls and towers, symbols of defense and authority, rise from the craggy landscape. These stone structures echo motifs found throughout history, from ancient Mesopotamian fortifications to medieval European castles. The wall, in particular, represents a division, a boundary between the known and the unknown, safety and threat. The image evokes a sense of enduring human presence amidst the ageless Sicilian landscape. Walls are not merely physical barriers; they are also psychological ones, representing a collective desire for security. This photograph, in its depiction of Taormina’s walls, engages with deep-seated emotions, reflecting our primal need for protection and order. The image reminds us that the impulse to build, defend, and demarcate is a recurring theme in the human story, constantly reappearing in different forms across cultures and eras.