Gezicht op Jönköping 1693

Willem Swidde's "View of Jönköping," was rendered around 1690 using engraving. Dominating the skyline is the architectural motif of fortified walls punctuated by towers, a symbol of civic pride and security. The very same arrangement recalls the ancient city-states, echoing the protective walls of Mycenae or the gates of Babylon. Yet, this symbol is far from static. Consider how, in medieval tapestries, city walls were often depicted as backdrops to courtly life, shifting from defensive structures to emblems of a refined society. What we see represented here is not a singular moment, but the culmination of centuries of collective memory imprinting itself onto the urban landscape. Notice how the fortifications of Jönköping rise from the collective subconscious, a potent symbol of humanity's enduring desire for safety and order.