Plattegrond van Royan 1638

This anonymous plan of Royan presents us with a city rendered in the abstract, captured with ink and colour. The zig-zagging fortifications that surround the city are of particular interest, speaking to a period of conflict and defense. These fortifications are not unique to Royan; they echo the ancient walls of Jericho, the defensive structures of medieval castles, and even the trenches of the Great War. Across time, humanity has consistently sought protection through barriers, each iteration reflecting the anxieties and technological capabilities of its age. Here, the zig-zag pattern is an especially evocative motif. We see it repeated, not only in military architecture but also in nature, in the jagged peaks of mountains, and the course of rivers. Its subconscious resonance reminds us of nature's inherent unpredictability and the human desire to impose order and control over a chaotic world. It is no wonder, then, that we use this shape to protect ourselves, again and again.