Ruins of Montmajour 1888

Vincent van Gogh sketched this drawing of the Ruins of Montmajour in 1888 using reed pen and ink. The subject, the Benedictine abbey, speaks of the transient nature of human endeavor. Consider the arches and towers. Throughout history, they have symbolized ambition and power. One sees them in Roman aqueducts, Gothic cathedrals, and even modern skyscrapers. Yet, here, these symbols are presented as ruins, returning to the earth. We are reminded of Ozymandias, the "king of kings" whose "works" are reduced to "colossal wreck[s]". This motif—the ruined monument—resonates with a deep sense of melancholic reflection on the passage of time and the inevitable decline of all things. A primal fear of oblivion, a universal anxiety that transcends time. Van Gogh masterfully invokes this emotional state, reminding us of the cyclical nature of history. These ruins, once testaments to human achievement, are now potent symbols of impermanence.