View of the Villa Medici 1677 - 1691

This is Giovanni Battista Falda's etched view of the Villa Medici, a scene brimming with symbols of power and cultivated nature. The symmetrical gardens, geometrically arranged, present us with a vision of control – humanity imposing order upon the wild chaos of nature. Consider the act of creating a garden itself. Echoes of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon resonate here, a testament to human ingenuity and desire to recreate paradise on earth. This pursuit speaks to our deepest psychological longings: the longing for a lost Eden, a desire to dominate nature, and an assertion of immortality through enduring beauty. Notice how this motif resurfaces throughout history, from the formal gardens of Versailles to modern-day parks. The underlying narrative remains: a statement of power and control, a mirror reflecting our collective dreams of order and harmony amidst the unpredictable flow of existence. It is this cyclical, non-linear progression of symbols that binds us to our past.