Zicht op Nantes 1620 - 1687

François Collignon's etching captures Nantes with fine lines, presenting us with a vista dominated by architectural symbols of power and faith. Prominent are the city’s fortifications and the spires of its cathedrals, rising assertively. This visual language of dominance harkens back to ancient motifs, echoing the ziggurats of Mesopotamia, where structures served as both physical and symbolic assertions of authority. Over time, the spire motif has been appropriated and adapted, shifting from pagan to Christian contexts. Here, in Collignon’s view of Nantes, the spires represent the enduring power of the church. Consider the collective subconscious; these shapes, reaching skyward, may evoke a primal desire for connection with the divine, a yearning reflected across cultures and centuries. The artist’s etching speaks to the non-linear progression of symbols, continually resurfacing, evolving, and engaging us on a deep, often unconscious level.