Gezicht op de Waag en vismarkt in Amsterdam 1855

This print, made by Johann Gabriel Friedrich Poppel, captures a view of the Waag and fish market in Amsterdam. Dominating the scene is the Waag, originally a city gate and later a weigh house. Its imposing presence is a testament to Amsterdam's civic and commercial power. Note the weather vane, a recurring motif throughout art history. In ancient times, the wind's direction was seen as a sign of the gods' favor. This idea evolved, and during the medieval period, weather vanes often took the form of Christian symbols, like the rooster atop church steeples, which was said to ward off evil and symbolize vigilance. Here, it reappears in a secular setting, now simply indicating wind direction for trade, but the echo of its symbolic origins lingers. The weather vane is a reminder of how images retain traces of their past, subtly influencing our perception. It's a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level, as its initial emotional charge remains.