De Zuidertoren te Amsterdam 1870 - 1926

This is Willem Wenckebach’s delicate depiction of the Zuidertoren in Amsterdam, rendered with ink on paper. Dominating the skyline, the tower is not merely a structure; it is a symbol of verticality and aspiration, deeply embedded in the collective psyche of Amsterdam. Consider the tower's form, how it echoes the ancient impulse to reach towards the heavens—a motif we see repeated throughout history, from the ziggurats of Mesopotamia to the Gothic cathedrals of Europe. This striving for the sky is not just about physical height. Psychologically, it represents our yearning for transcendence, for connection with the divine, a sentiment mirrored across cultures. Reflect on the psychological weight of such a symbol: does it evoke a sense of stability and rootedness, or perhaps a feeling of ambition and reaching beyond earthly constraints? The tower, like the act of building itself, serves as a powerful symbol of human endeavor and spiritual longing, continuously re-interpreted across time.