The Prison Tower 1876

Andrew Fisher Bunner rendered "The Prison Tower" with ink on paper sometime in the late 19th century. The towers, stark and unadorned, evoke an immediate sense of isolation. These are places of confinement, where the tower itself becomes a potent symbol of restriction and the denial of freedom. Consider how this imagery resonates across centuries. The tower, as a structure, appears throughout history—from medieval keeps to the Tower of Babel—always embodying themes of power, protection, but also imprisonment. The way this motif is internalized, a psychological prison of the mind, recalls Piranesi's etchings of labyrinthine prisons. The ascent, represented by the stairs, suggests a possibility of elevation or escape. Yet, the tower's imposing presence and limited entrances convey a sense of entrapment. This duality taps into our collective memory, reminding us of the ever-present struggle between aspiration and limitation. The symbol of the tower is powerful and complex, evolving across time and cultures, and resurfacing in new forms.