View of Montmartre 1886

Vincent van Gogh sketched this view of Montmartre using reed pen and ink, an image brimming with symbols of transformation and transition. Observe the windmills dotting the horizon, their arms like ancient giants—once symbols of pastoral life, now overshadowed by the burgeoning urban landscape. Windmills remind me of Don Quixote, of course, but also of the relentless march of modernity, a force that grinds down traditions. The stark contrast between the rural windmills and the towering buildings under construction evokes a deep, subconscious tension—the clash between nature and industry. Just as the figures in the foreground appear caught in perpetual motion, so too is Montmartre, forever caught between its past and its future. This conflict is a powerful force, engaging us on a primal level, stirring feelings of nostalgia and perhaps even dread. It echoes through the ages. The wheel, too, is a symbol of the cyclical nature of life and death, a reminder that even as things change, they also remain the same, resurfacing in new forms, carrying echoes of what once was.