Gezicht op Brack's Doelen Hotel te Amsterdam 1855 - 1882

Andreas Theodorus Rooswinkel captured this view of Brack's Doelen Hotel in Amsterdam with a camera, a relatively new medium at the time. The hotel itself, standing tall by the water, has a curious name. 'Doelen' refers to the civic guard shooting ranges, spaces laden with symbolism of community and defense. Historically, these sites were not merely for marksmanship; they were places where civic identity was forged. The image evokes a sense of bourgeois security, yet the tower to the right hints at something more archaic. Towers, throughout history, have been symbols of power, defense, and isolation. Consider the Tower of Babel, or the medieval watchtowers. Here, in Amsterdam, it is incorporated into a hotel. Has its meaning been diluted, tamed, or does it still whisper of older, more primal urges for protection and dominance? The photograph captures a moment in time, but the symbols within resonate with echoes of the past.