Zicht in de Vicolo della Palma te San Remo 1864 - 1881

Giacomo Brogi captured this view of Vicolo della Palma in San Remo through the lens of his camera, a relatively new medium in the 19th century. Note how the arches dominate the architecture; these structural curves are not merely functional but symbolic. The arch, a motif pervasive throughout history, speaks volumes. From the triumphal arches of ancient Rome, celebrating military victories and imperial power, to their adoption in religious architecture signifying a gateway to the divine, arches transcend mere construction. Consider how the arch reappears across cultures—in the keyhole arches of Islamic Spain, or the Gothic pointed arches reaching towards the heavens. Each iteration carries echoes of its past, yet adapts to its present. Psychologically, the arch can represent a passage, a transition from one state to another, engaging our subconscious desires for exploration and transformation. It’s a powerful symbol, continually resurfacing in our collective memory, evolving in form but forever rooted in its fundamental essence.