Doorsneden van versterkte vestingwallen 1654

This print by Hendrick van Ruse van Rysensteen depicts cross-sections of fortified ramparts with ink. Walls, moats, and bastions – these are the symbols of protection and power, visually dominant. The linear depiction of the ramparts echoes the geometrical patterns seen in ancient Roman fortifications, a recurring motif in military architecture, where the defense and containment have been critical. Like concentric circles in defensive structures, the symbol of the wall can be traced back to antiquity; it reflects a primal, psychological need for security. Consider how these rigid lines and calculated angles contrast with the natural landscape. It's as if humanity seeks to impose order on the chaos, a constant tension between the constructed and the organic. These images speak to a deep-seated anxiety, a desire to control and defend, which has been repeatedly projected onto the landscape across generations. The motif resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.