Gezicht in Amsterdam met figuren c. 1895 - 1898

This sketch of Amsterdam, rendered by George Hendrik Breitner with pencil, captures the spirit of the city through a forest of vertical lines and geometrical shapes. Here, the skyline isn't just architectural, it’s a declaration. The pointed spire is an ancient symbol found in different cultures across the globe. Its earliest appearance can be traced back to ancient Egypt with the obelisk, used to connect the Earthly realm to the divine one. The church spire is but another iteration of humankind's need to create verticality with an emphasis on the power of reaching upward, into the heavens. This deep-seated desire surfaces throughout history, changing according to local needs, cultures, and desires. Such spires evoke a shared cultural memory. They stir something primal within us, a visual echo of countless generations reaching for something beyond.