Gezicht op de Bastille en de Porte Saint-Antoine te Parijs 18th century

This is a view of the Bastille and the Porte Saint-Antoine in Paris, made by an anonymous artist. The Bastille looms, not merely as a building but as a symbol. Originally a medieval fortress, it became synonymous with oppression, embodying the absolute power of the monarchy. The image recalls similar fortresses across Europe, each a node in a network of power, fear, and control. Think of Carcassonne or the Tower of London, each carrying its own weight of history and human suffering. But here, the Bastille is not just a fortress; it’s a pressure point. Consider how the collective psyche, the shared memory of generations, might imbue such a structure with a sense of dread and anticipation. The walls, the towers, the very stones whisper tales of imprisonment and injustice, stirring a potent emotional response. The cycle of oppression and liberation, capture and release, is timeless. The Bastille eventually fell, yet the impulse to build such symbols, to exert control, remains. What new forms will it take?