Kasteel van Chillon before 1931

Etienne Bosch created this print of Chillon Castle in the early 20th century. The castle, prominently featured, looms over the landscape, a sentinel of power and history, a powerful symbol of medieval strength and authority. Castles have captured the imagination for centuries, appearing in art across epochs, like the Neuschwanstein Castle, which was built in the 19th century, but aimed to revive the architecture of the Middle Ages. The castle motif is a recurring theme within the human psyche. It stirs deep-seated notions of protection, dominion, and isolation, and evokes a sense of longing for a bygone era of romance, chivalry, and mystery. These structures act as a container, holding not just people but also their narratives and legacies, impacting viewers on a subconscious level. Like a medieval palimpsest, Bosch’s castle is not just stone and mortar but a layering of cultural memory. Each window and turret reflects the cyclical nature of history, revealing how symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different contexts.