Gezicht op het museum in Artis in Amsterdam 1860 - 1890

Andries Jager captured this view of the museum in Artis, Amsterdam, with photography. Here, water acts as a mirror, a symbol deeply rooted in the human psyche as a place of reflection and introspection. Water is a threshold, reflecting the tangible and hinting at the intangible. The building's reflection appears inverted, distorted, which speaks to the complex, layered nature of memory. Just like the ever-changing surface of water that reveals and conceals, the museum's image merges with the actual structure. This contrast makes me think of the myth of Narcissus, who gazed into the water and became infatuated with his own reflection, unaware of the profound depths beneath. The play of light on the water, with its subtle gradations and shimmering reflections, captivates, reminding us of the cyclical, eternal dance between light and shadow. This interplay echoes through time, resurfacing in various forms and meanings across different cultures.