Gezicht op een hoekhuis aan een straat c. 1888

Here is a pen drawing by Willem Koekkoek, capturing a street corner house. Note the detailed facades and windows. These architectural elements aren't mere decoration; they echo the human desire for order and security. The window, as an opening, is a powerful symbol of introspection and protection. We can find its counterpart in many paintings throughout time: In early Christian art the windows of gothic cathedrals let divine light in, and in domestic portraits windows open a space for reflection. What is this desire to connect the outside world to the inside world? Just as the human soul seeks understanding, the building itself embodies a dialogue between shelter and exposure. This act of representing buildings is a desire that transcends time, and remains, like the facades of ancient ruins, a potent symbol of time's passage, echoing through civilisations in a cyclical dance.