Gezicht op de (nooit voltooide) Waardkerk te Leiden 1712

This anonymous etching shows the Waardkerk of Leiden, its towering spire reaching towards the heavens. The church is a vessel, intended to bring mankind closer to the divine. But what does it mean when such a vessel remains unfinished? Consider the tower; a symbol of ambition and spiritual aspiration. Its presence here evokes the Tower of Babel, a cautionary tale of human hubris. The uncompleted structure speaks of thwarted aspirations and the impermanence of human endeavors. Yet, in this very incompleteness, we find a potent symbol. A reminder that the journey towards the divine, like the construction of this church, is ongoing. An echo of our own human experience, perpetually under construction. And so, the image resonates, inviting contemplation on the cyclical nature of human ambition, and the persistent, unending quest for meaning.