IIe. Vue de Fronville (2nd View of Fronville) 1747 - 1783

This is "IIe. Vue de Fronville", an etching made by William Wynne Ryland. Here, the ladder, casually leaning against a sturdy tree, represents a connection between the earthly and the lofty. The ladder motif is a deeply resonant symbol, echoing Jacob's Ladder from the Old Testament. It bridges the terrestrial world with the divine, suggesting a path of spiritual ascent, a way to move beyond the mundane. However, here in Fronville, the ladder is not reaching towards God. Instead, it’s employed as a humble tool in the landscape. Similarly, we see the 'axis mundi', the World Tree—an ancient symbol found in many cultures as a central point connecting heaven, earth, and the underworld— reduced to supporting farm storage. Ryland uses these symbols to evoke a sense of nostalgia for a simpler, pastoral existence, a deep longing to return to an idyllic past. By engaging these symbols, Ryland taps into our collective memory, stirring a primal yearning for connection with nature.