Gezicht op de grote laan bij de Tuilerieën 1660 - 1695

Adam Perelle etched this vista of the Tuileries gardens in Paris around the late 17th century. The obelisk, centrally placed, rises as a symbol of power and permanence, a motif stretching back to ancient Egypt. Consider how this symbol has journeyed through time. Originally erected to honor pharaohs, obelisks were later embraced by Roman emperors and, still later, by European monarchs. Each era imbued them with new layers of meaning, yet they remained steadfast symbols of authority. This act of cultural appropriation and reinterpretation reveals a deep-seated human impulse to connect with and legitimize power through symbolic forms. The collective memory of these forms persists, subconsciously influencing our perception of authority. The obelisk in Perelle's print evokes not only royal power but also echoes of ancient empires, demonstrating how visual symbols can resonate across millennia. The careful landscaping and orderly arrangement of figures in the print further amplify this sense of control and dominion.