Plattegrond van Leiden 1650 - 1750

R. Benning’s map offers a bird’s-eye view of Leiden, a city enclosed by formidable fortifications, a potent symbol of protection and control. These walls, with their star-shaped projections, speak to a time of siege and defense, yet also echo the human desire to impose order upon the landscape. Consider, for instance, how the ancient Romans laid out their cities in precise grids, a pattern that resonates even here. This impulse to define and defend space is a recurring theme throughout history. You may even recall Leonardo da Vinci's sketches for city defenses, which, while more elaborate, share this same underlying concern with security. The fortifications mirror a collective memory of conflict. On a psychoanalytic level, this careful delineation of space might reflect a deeper, subconscious need for security. This map, therefore, becomes more than a simple representation of geography; it embodies a dialogue between humanity's aspirations and anxieties, resurfacing in different forms across the ages.