Gezicht op de Porte Saint-Bernard before 1655

Israel Silvestre created this print of the Gezicht op de Porte Saint-Bernard in the 17th century. Silvestre, a draughtsman, etcher, and printmaker, was prolific during the reign of Louis XIV, a period of significant transformation in France. This print offers a glimpse into the socio-political landscape of the time. It depicts not just a physical place, but also the relationship between power, space, and identity. The Porte Saint-Bernard, a gate in the city walls of Paris, stands as a threshold, a boundary between the familiar and the foreign. Etched in the lower portion of the print are the words: “When from a rude winter, we feel the outrage, And when at home the fire has nothing to feed on / Here one sees the forests come swimming; And the port S. Bernard can alone assist us.” Silvestre's print invites us to consider the complexities of place and belonging in an era defined by conflict, and the importance of this port as a place of refuge.