Gezicht op Mortagne-au-Perche 1638

This anonymous rendering offers us a 'Gezicht op Mortagne-au-Perche', a view of Mortagne-au-Perche. Note the fortified city atop a hill, its walls and towers reminiscent of ancient citadels. Here, we see echoed in miniature the timeless motif of human settlement striving for security and elevation. Consider, for example, the hill towns of Italy, where a similar aspiration for safety and prominence shaped the landscape. This architectural configuration transcends mere practicality; it embodies a deeper, almost subconscious desire for ascendancy and protection. The walls of Mortagne, like the walls of Jericho or Rome, symbolize a collective defense against the uncertainties of the world. This resonates profoundly in our cultural memory, evoking a sense of communal identity and resilience. The emotional power of this image lies in its ability to tap into this primal longing for security, a force that continues to shape our world. Note how the towers reach upward, almost desperately aspiring to the heavens. These symbols have gone through a cyclical progression, as aspirations of humankind have shifted from seeking protection to seeking spiritual transcendence.