Gezicht op Mâcon 1631 - 1691

Israel Silvestre etched this view of Mâcon in the 17th century, capturing the imposing architecture of the town. Dominating the skyline is the church, its towers reaching towards the heavens, a symbol of spiritual aspiration. Notice how this architectural form, with its vertical emphasis, echoes in earlier depictions of the Tower of Babel, a motif representing humanity’s ambition and its subsequent fall. The church, in this context, becomes a complex symbol, aspiring to divine connection, yet also hinting at the potential for hubris. The enduring recurrence of towering structures across different epochs reveals our collective fascination with height and spiritual ascension. This impulse persists, reappearing in modern skyscrapers, which, like the church, reflect humanity's desire to reach beyond its earthly bounds. The psychological weight of such symbols engages viewers on a deep, subconscious level, connecting us to both the past and the present. This non-linear, cyclical progression of symbols resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.