Gezicht op het Stadhuis en de Beurs te Aken 1755 - 1779

This print, made by the Kaiserlich Franziskische Akademie, captures the Aachen Town Hall and Stock Exchange. Dominating the foreground, a fountain stands as a symbol of civic life, its form echoing classical ideals of public virtue and communal well-being. The fountain, with its tiered structure, harkens back to ancient Roman waterworks—a motif that reappears throughout European history. In medieval tapestries, we see similar fountains, often depicted in allegorical gardens representing paradise or earthly delights. Here, however, it serves a more grounded purpose, reflecting the burgeoning commercial and social life of Aachen. This juxtaposition—the classical ideal and the practical reality—reveals a culture grappling with its identity. Such symbols touch us, not merely as historical artifacts, but as psychic residues that continue to shape our understanding of community and progress. The image engages the viewer, evoking a sense of nostalgia and a longing for connection with the past.