Groep Italiaanse huizen in Rome of omgeving 1634 - 1694

Willem Romeyn sketched this view of Italian houses using pen in gray in the 17th century. Notice the archway, a motif deeply embedded in our collective architectural memory. The arch, originally a structural solution, has transcended its function to become a potent symbol. From ancient Roman aqueducts to triumphal arches, they signify passage, transition, and connection. Consider the arch as a recurring motif. It appears in Renaissance paintings as a framing device, bestowing importance to the figures within, and in funerary art as gateways to the afterlife. Each iteration carries echoes of its past, accumulating layers of meaning. The image touches on our deepest subconscious, resonating with a sense of history and continuity. It represents a collective longing for stability and order and a subliminal connection to the architectural forms of our ancestors. It elicits an emotional response tied to our shared human experience. Thus, the arch is not merely a structure but a vessel, carrying within it the weight of centuries.