Gezicht op een rij huizen in Tirol 1881

Here we see a view of houses in Tirol, rendered with delicate lines by Maria van Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. The humble dwelling, repeated, reminds us of the fundamental human need for shelter, echoing motifs of home and hearth found in art across cultures. Consider the ladder, a visual element stretching from earth to dwelling. It appears in dreams, myths, and religious texts from the East to the West as a symbol of ascent, a connection between the earthly and the divine. In the Tower of Babel, the ladder represents humankind's ambition, while in Jacob's dream, it symbolizes divine connection. As civilizations rise and fall, this image persists, a testament to humanity’s enduring connection to primal needs, desires, and the archetypal quest for something more. The image engages with our collective memory, stirring something deep within the soul.