Aluenda- Tordesilhas 1976

This curious cartography by Joaquim Rodrigo presents us with a landscape of memory, rendered in earthy tones. Mountains dominate, archetypal symbols of stability and aspiration, each labeled, anchoring the composition. Note the recurring motif of the mountain. In antiquity, mountains were sacred sites, believed to be the dwelling places of gods, connecting the earthly and divine realms. This reverence is echoed across cultures, from Mount Olympus in ancient Greece to Mount Sinai in Judeo-Christian tradition. Even in secular contexts, mountains evoke feelings of awe and transcendence, representing the challenges we face and the heights we aspire to reach. Consider also the scattered figures in motion—are they pilgrims or wanderers? Their presence infuses the landscape with a sense of journey, a quest for meaning that resonates deep within our collective psyche. These symbols are not static; they evolve, adapt, and resurface, each time carrying echoes of the past while reflecting the present.