Gezicht op het Palazzo dei Normanni, Palermo 1862 - 1876

Jean Andrieu captured the Palazzo dei Normanni in Palermo with a camera, an instrument that freezes light and time. Dominating the cityscape, the Palace stands as a potent symbol of power. Originally an Arab castle, its architectural layers reflect a palimpsest of Norman, Arab, and Byzantine influences, each culture building upon the foundations of its predecessors. Consider the dome-like structures, reminiscent of the Hagia Sophia, or even ancient Roman temples. The dome, a symbol of divine or imperial authority, recurs throughout history, each time imbued with the aspirations of the ruling class. The fortress-like facade is softened by the regularity of the windows. Do these windows represent an opening to the world, or the many eyes of the authorities, watching our every move? The Palazzo dei Normanni, like the symbols within it, invites us to reflect on the cyclical nature of history, and how each era reinterprets and repurposes the emblems of its forerunners.