Gezicht op Passavas Possibly 1679 - 1717

Willem Swidde etched this view of Passavas around 1687, capturing more than just its physical layout. At first glance, the fortifications signal strategic power and defense. Yet, these walls echo deeper human desires for security and order. The image calls to mind ancient city-states, their boundaries meticulously defined. Think of the walls of Troy, or even the symbolic enclosure of the Garden of Eden—spaces designed to protect what is within from the chaos without. This motif isn't unique; consider how mandalas use circular enclosures to represent psychological wholeness, or even how we arrange furniture to define ‘safe’ spaces in our homes. The desire for enclosure reflects a fundamental psychological need—a boundary between the self and the world, order and chaos. This need resurfaces throughout history, with each culture adapting the symbol of the wall to their unique circumstances, reminding us that while societies evolve, our deepest emotional needs remain strikingly constant.