Gezicht op het Rokin te Amsterdam 1896 - 1901

This quick sketch of the Rokin in Amsterdam by George Hendrik Breitner captures the essence of urban life through a network of lines and forms. Note the scaffolding, a recurring motif in art history, often symbolizing construction and transformation. Think of medieval depictions of the Tower of Babel, where scaffolding represents both human ambition and its inevitable collapse. Here, in Breitner's sketch, the scaffolding is not a sign of hubris but of progress and change inherent in the modern city. This symbol appears throughout art history in different contexts, each time reflecting the cultural values and anxieties of its era. The unfinished nature of the sketch mirrors the city's constant state of flux. It is a reflection of the subconscious, where the city and its inhabitants are perpetually evolving. The symbol's evolution underscores the non-linear nature of cultural memory, constantly resurfacing and adapting to new contexts.