Landscape with a City c. 19th century

Editor: This tiny landscape, a pen and ink drawing by Rodolphe Bresdin, feels so vast despite its size. It’s called "Landscape with a City." What strikes me is this sense of timelessness. What symbols or enduring themes do you see at play here? Curator: Indeed, the image evokes timelessness. Note the spire, almost Babylonian in its aspiration, alongside what seem like classical ruins. Bresdin collapses eras, suggesting a cultural memory constantly built upon and crumbling. Does that resonate with you? Editor: Absolutely. It's like a visual palimpsest, where layers of history are faintly visible beneath the present. I see echoes of different civilizations. I hadn’t quite appreciated that depth until now. Thanks! Curator: Consider the symbolic weight of ruins, their constant presence in landscape drawing. Now, do you think that might be a clue to its enduring appeal?