St. Mawes, Cornwall c. 1823

Joseph Mallord William Turner painted St. Mawes, Cornwall, with watercolor, capturing a scene brimming with maritime and defensive structures. Dominating the skyline, the castle—a symbol of power and protection—reminds us of humanity’s constant need for security. The fortress appears throughout history, from the Tower of Babel to modern skyscrapers, each echoing a similar aspiration: to defy mortality and assert dominance. Think of the Tower of Babel; both structures speak to humanity's ambition and the cyclical nature of architectural aspirations. The castle, however, is juxtaposed with the ephemeral activity of the harbor, full of fishermen. This contrast reminds us of the transient nature of human endeavors. The cycle of building, decay, and renewal—the sea, the castle, the fleeting lives of fishermen. These symbols resonate across time, evoking a deep-seated sense of history and human striving, ever present in our collective consciousness.