Zicht op een rotsstad gebouwd op terassen tegen de steile helling nabij Menton c. 1886 - 1896

This photograph by Henry Pauw van Wieldrecht captures a rock city built on terraces near Menton. The city built precariously into the hillside is a fortress of human ingenuity against the power of nature. Note the city’s position on the steep slope, echoing the ancient motif of settlements clinging to hillsides for protection, a visual language extending back to the citadels of Mycenae. This symbol of resilience has been mirrored across epochs, seen in the terraced fields of the Incas, each reflecting a deep seated need for security. Consider the psychological weight of the settlement: the repetition of terraced lines, a visual echo of recurring human efforts to dominate the landscape. This motif transcends mere aesthetics, engaging with a deep, subconscious desire for order and control. The act of building, terracing, and settling into such a landscape becomes a profound statement of human intent—a recurrent theme in the theater of cultural memory.