Gezicht van de Waal op Nijmegen 1650 - 1651

This is Jan van Goyen's sketch of the Waal at Nijmegen. See the imposing towers of the city; they are more than mere architectural features. Towers, throughout history, have symbolized power, protection, and the aspirations of civilizations reaching for the heavens. Think of the Tower of Babel, a testament to human ambition, or the watchtowers of ancient Rome, guarding against unseen threats. Here in Nijmegen, these towers evoke similar feelings of security and dominance. Yet, the sketchiness of Van Goyen’s lines suggests a fragility, a reminder that even the most formidable structures are subject to time's relentless passage. This duality—strength and vulnerability—mirrors our own human condition. Note how the image's emotional power lies in its ability to tap into our collective memory, triggering subconscious associations with safety, authority, and the inevitable decay of all things. It’s this recurring cycle, this constant interplay between creation and destruction, that makes the image so compelling, echoing across centuries and cultures.