Harbor before Fortified Town n.d.

This watercolor harbor scene was made by William Marlow around the late 18th century. The fortified town, with its sturdy towers, evokes centuries of human efforts to control and protect, to fend off existential threats through the creation of barriers. Consider the tower, a symbol stretching back to the Tower of Babel, an ambitious, hubristic attempt to reach the heavens. Here, the tower is a secular structure—a symbol of earthly power, yet it carries the echoes of that primal urge to dominate and secure. Similarly, boats have carried our dreams and nightmares, representing both connection and alienation, journeys of discovery and forced exile. The harbor is not just a physical space, it is a stage where dreams of expansion and fear of invasion play out. It's a reminder that, despite our best efforts to fortify ourselves, the sea—like time—always finds a way to erode our defenses. What do you feel when you look at the towers and boats?