Fotoreproductie van een ontwerp van N. de Pfyffer c. 1892

This photogravure of Château de Münchenstein, near Basel, captures a castle nestled precariously upon a craggy cliffside. The castle, a recurring symbol across time, evokes ideas of power, security, and isolation. Think of the medieval fortresses, emblems of feudal authority, or even fairy tale castles, symbols of dreams and unattainable desires. Here, the castle's position atop the cliff heightens its inaccessibility, suggesting a fortress of the mind, perhaps, or a retreat from the world. The motif of elevation, so prominent in this image, brings to mind the ancient Greek concept of the "hypsos," that overwhelming sense of awe and terror induced by the sublime. Like a solitary figure gazing into an infinite landscape, the viewer experiences a powerful emotional charge. The castle's presence against the backdrop of nature becomes not just a visual scene, but an invitation to confront our own existential condition.