Gezicht op Kasteel Rheinfels aan de Rijn 1688 - 1698

Jan van Call’s print shows us the castle Rheinfels, its image mirrored in the Rhine’s waters. Rising majestically, the castle on the hill is a potent symbol. Throughout history, structures perched atop hills have signified dominance and control, from ancient citadels to medieval fortresses. Think of the Acropolis in Athens, or even Mont Saint-Michel. The castle is not merely a building; it embodies power, security, and the assertion of authority over a landscape. Reflected in the water, the castle evokes the myth of Narcissus, gazing at his own reflection. Like Narcissus, the castle seems to admire itself. Water here is a symbol of introspection and the double—a reminder of the ever-present duality in our perceptions of power and beauty. Notice how the image resurfaces—each time with new layers of meaning, yet anchored by the same primal urges. The image of the castle is a memory passed down, continuously re-evaluated, as time flows.