Plattegrond van Antwerpen (linkerhelft); intocht van Ferdinand te Antwerpen in 1635 (nr. 42) 1639 - 1641

Theodoor van Thulden created this detailed engraving of Antwerp in 1635, capturing the city’s layout with a cartographer’s precision, yet infused with a sense of civic pride. Note the heraldic shield emblazoned with the city's emblem. The walls, not just physical barriers but symbolic protectors, remind us of similar fortifications throughout history. Think of the walls of Troy, rendered in Homer’s epic, or medieval castles. These structures embody the collective desire for safety and order, a bulwark against the chaos of the outside world. Yet, paradoxically, such defenses also speak to the ever-present threat of invasion, reflecting a deep-seated anxiety about vulnerability. The map, then, is more than a guide; it is a manifestation of our primal need for security, etched onto the very fabric of our cultural memory. This urge resurfaces and evolves, adapting to the shifting sands of time, yet its core essence remains unchanged, resonating within the depths of our shared consciousness.