Gezicht op Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore in Venetië, Italië 1860 - 1870

This photographic image captures Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice. The bell tower, or campanile, is the most prominent symbol. Rising high, it is more than just an architectural feature; it is an echo of humanity’s reaching for the divine. These towers, reaching upwards, recall the Tower of Babel, a symbol of man's ambition to ascend to the heavens. The Babel story tells us about the disruption of communication and understanding. But here, in Venice, the tower stands not as a symbol of chaos but as a beacon, a landmark, and a communal point, illustrating how symbols can shift in meaning over time. Looking at the reflection of these buildings on the water, it is hard not to think of the myth of Narcissus. These symbols engage viewers on a subconscious level. The image of Venice reflected in the water elicits intense emotions, a poignant reminder of our own fleeting existence and our longing for permanence. The image, and particularly the bell tower, is a testament to the cyclical progression of symbols. They resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in differing historical contexts.