Markt en stadhuis te Veere 1883 - 1940

Johannes Frederik Engelbert ten Klooster created this line drawing of the Markt en stadhuis te Veere. The most striking feature is the town hall, adorned with figures that seem to echo ancient statues. These figures evoke the classical caryatids, female figures used as architectural support, recalling the Erechtheion in Athens. But here, they are transformed, witnessing the everyday life of a Dutch town. This adaptation reminds us of the cyclical nature of symbols. What was once a sacred, load-bearing figure in ancient Greece now adorns a municipal building, its meaning subtly altered yet still resonant. The figures stand as silent observers, embodying the weight of history, bearing witness to the passage of time, and subtly influencing our perception. Just as in dreams, these echoes from the past surface, carrying subconscious associations that connect us to earlier eras. The classical form is reborn, reminding us of the non-linear progression of symbols across time.