Walled Building on a Hill c. 19th century

Editor: This is Domenico Quaglio's "Walled Building on a Hill," created sometime in the early 19th century. The etching has a rather wistful quality, doesn't it? What symbols stand out to you? Curator: Notice how the walled building looms over the figures, a kind of ever-present authority. Consider its placement on the hill—an age-old symbol of aspiration, but here, perhaps, also of isolation. Editor: Isolation? I hadn't considered that. Curator: Yes, the wall itself. What does a wall signify? Is it protection or confinement? And what of the figures, separated from the building? Editor: So, the building is not just a building; it’s a symbol of… something larger. This gives me a fresh perspective. Curator: Indeed. Images are never just what they seem.