Vrouw op een toren bij de wallen van Zutphen 1786

This etching, "Vrouw op een toren bij de wallen van Zutphen", was made by Reinier Vinkeles. Note the tower, a form that has resonated through centuries, from the Tower of Babel to medieval keeps. Here, it is topped by a woman gazing through a telescope, suggesting observation and a yearning for knowledge. This echoes the allegorical figure of Prudence, often depicted with a mirror or telescope, symbolizing foresight. Consider, too, the trees lining the riverbank, framing the scene. They are reminiscent of the "arbor vitae," the tree of life, a symbol of immortality and connection between heaven and earth, appearing in numerous cultures and mythologies. This motif, charged with the hope of continued life, appears in countless forms from ancient Egyptian art to Klimt's paintings. Such persistent symbols reveal our collective unconscious, shaping how we perceive and emotionally respond to the world around us.