Portaal met zeshoekig grondplan 1658

This engraving depicts a hexagonal structure, its classical columns and arches rendered with meticulous detail by an anonymous hand. The hexagon itself, a figure with six sides, carries echoes of ancient mysticism; it has appeared in sacred geometries across cultures, symbolizing harmony and balance, and is frequently associated with cosmic order. Here, its architectural expression invites contemplation. The arches evoke triumphal gateways of Roman antiquity, spaces designed for processions and public displays of power. Yet, the arches here are empty; the space they define is devoid of figures, emphasizing the absence of human activity. It also brings to mind the image of a proscenium—an ancient stage, where dramas of human existence play out. The arches and columns form a space of transition, inviting us to move between worlds—the everyday and the ideal. The structure becomes a vessel, capable of holding our collective hopes and fears. These forms echo through centuries, resurfacing in new guises, each time colored by the experiences and the longings of those who shape and behold them.