Zicht op Flüelen aan het Vierwoudstrekenmeer 1859

Eugène Cicéri captured Flüelen on Lake Lucerne with watercolor and gouache. See how the village nestles under the watchful gaze of the mountain. This protective posture is no accident; it speaks to a deep-seated human need for shelter and security, echoed in countless images across cultures. Note the church spire—a vertical thrust towards the heavens. This motif transcends its religious context, resurfacing as obelisks in ancient Egypt, minarets in Islamic architecture, and even skyscrapers in modern cities. Each iteration carries a similar yearning: a symbolic reaching beyond the earthly realm. Consider the emotional weight of the landscape itself. The towering mountain evokes feelings of awe and the sublime, engaging our subconscious with its powerful presence. This feeling mirrors the fear and reverence our ancestors felt towards untamed nature, a sentiment that still resonates within us. The continuous thread of human experience binds us to these images.