Hôtel de Ville, Aix-la-Chapelle 1859

Editor: This watercolor by John Ruskin captures the Hôtel de Ville in Aix-la-Chapelle. It feels unfinished, almost ghostly. What symbols or cultural memories resonate for you in this image? Curator: The twin towers evoke a sense of civic power, reflecting Charlemagne's legacy. But Ruskin's delicate touch, the almost hesitant lines, suggest a fragility, a contrast between the ideal of permanence and the reality of time's passage. Does this resonate with you? Editor: I hadn't considered the contrast, but it does. Thank you. Curator: Considering symbols within the painting, we can consider how it reflects cultural continuity as well.