Gezicht op de Porte de la Conférence en de Seine 1685 - 1695

Aldert Meyer created this vista of the Porte de la Conférence and the Seine River, likely in the late 17th century. The city gate looms, a fortress of power, while the river teems with figures large and small, rendered in exquisite detail. Consider how the depiction of urban bustle connects across time. From ancient Roman cityscapes to Piranesi’s etchings of 18th-century Rome, artists have long been drawn to scenes of urban vitality, reflecting humanity’s relationship with the city. The river, too, is a potent symbol. Here, as elsewhere, it serves not just as a source of life and commerce but also as a psychological boundary. We can see how the river divides and connects, reflecting our own internal divides. Just as the river flows, so too does the symbolic language of art, constantly resurfacing and adapting. Meyer’s print echoes motifs of the past, ensuring their non-linear cyclical progression.