A Southern River Landscape 

Jean-Joseph-Xavier Bidauld painted this landscape in oil, capturing a serene riverside scene. Dominating the middle ground is an obelisk, a symbol with roots stretching back to ancient Egypt, where it represented sun worship and stability. The obelisk in Bidauld's painting, however, is dilapidated, juxtaposing notions of timeless endurance with the realities of decay. We see how the obelisk— a phallic symbol—has lost its potency, as we watch a new society with new symbols come to bear. Think of the obelisks erected by pharaohs versus those in Rome—each instantiation carries the weight of its original context but is reinterpreted to suit new ambitions. Similarly, the presence of grazing cattle and a lone figure suggests a pastoral ideal, echoing classical themes of man living in harmony with nature. But even this harmony feels tinged with a sense of transience, reminding us that all idylls are fleeting, subject to the relentless flow of time. This image invites reflection on how symbols persist and adapt, carrying cultural memory through shifting landscapes.