Demolition of the Sorbonne 1885

This anonymous etching captures the demolition of the Sorbonne, a site brimming with centuries of intellectual heritage. At its core, the Sorbonne stands, not merely as a building, but as a symbol of knowledge and tradition, now under siege. Note the toppling of such a monumental structure. This act echoes through time, recalling the destruction of temples and libraries of old. A visual motif of power shifts, and cultural upheaval. Consider the Library of Alexandria, its destruction symbolizing the loss of ancient wisdom. Similarly, here the ruin suggests a break with the past. The image evokes a deep, psychological response, a sense of loss and discontinuity, engaging with our collective memory of cultural heritage. The cyclical nature of destruction and renewal persists, reminding us that every end contains the seeds of a new beginning, a recurring theme in the human experience.