Corner of Rotten Row and Taylor Street (Glascow) 1891

This is David Young Cameron's etching of a Glaswegian street corner, a scene steeped in the symbols of urban life. Notice the towering chimneys. These structures, reaching towards the heavens, are a symbol of industry but also of home, echoing the hearths of ancient times. The chimney has appeared throughout history. In ancient Rome, the Vestal Virgins kept a sacred fire burning, a symbol of the city's safety and the home. Through the medieval period, its form evolved, appearing in countless forms. The image has an interesting psychological quality in that the chimneys simultaneously offer warmth and emit smoke, contributing to a sense of melancholy. This reminds me that symbols are not fixed in their meaning, but are rather in a constant state of flux. It is a reminder that these motifs are not static; they evolve, resurface, and are reshaped by each passing epoch.