Sint Antoniesluis, Amsterdam 1890 - 1946

Cornelis Vreedenburgh etched "Sint Antoniesluis, Amsterdam," capturing a serene slice of city life. The church tower in the background is a beacon, a symbol of spiritual stability. This tower, piercing the sky, reminds us of similar architectural aspirations found across Europe, echoing the desire to reach the divine. Think of the minarets in Islamic architecture, or the ziggurats of ancient Mesopotamia – all striving to connect the earthly with the celestial. The tower is not merely stone and mortar; it's a vessel of collective yearning, a cultural constant. The waterway adds to this spiritual current. Water, often a symbol of purification and renewal, flows through various cultural narratives—the River Styx in Greek mythology or the Ganges in Hinduism, all reflecting humanity's deep-seated connection to the life-giving and transformative powers of water. Here, Vreedenburgh invites us to see how symbols persist, weaving through our shared human story.