Gezicht op Parijs, 1726 1726

This anonymous etching, "View of Paris," created in 1726, offers a panorama framed by the drapery, the universal symbol of theatre. Beyond this curtain, we observe the silhouette of Paris, a city crowned with spires that reach towards the heavens, mirroring humanity's eternal aspiration for transcendence. The figures in the foreground, rendered with a delicate hand, offer us a glimpse into the daily life that animates the city. Consider the drapery, a motif repeated across centuries, from ancient Roman triumphal arches to Renaissance paintings, each time employed to ennoble the scene it frames. It evokes a sense of grand spectacle, transforming the city into a stage upon which human dramas unfold. The procession, the horse rider, a journey... It is the human activity and the eternal comings and goings of humanity. Such imagery taps into our collective memory, stirring a deep-seated recognition of historical narratives and cultural aspirations. This etching is not merely a depiction of Paris; it is a stage for the unfolding drama of urban life, inviting viewers to participate in the eternal spectacle.