Bouwterrein van het Kinderhuis van het Leger des Heils 1916

Here we see an anonymous photograph of the construction site for the Salvation Army Children's Home. Dominating the scene is a large sign bearing the names of the architects and the purpose of the building: a Kinderhuis, or children's home, by the Leger des Heils, the Salvation Army. This simple declaration points to a deeper symbolism. The act of building and naming is an act of claiming, of civilizing, reminiscent of how the cross served as both a symbol of faith and an emblem of conquest. The idea of providing a home for children taps into a primal, universal need for shelter and protection, echoing the mythological foundations of many cultures, from the story of Romulus and Remus nurtured by a she-wolf, to the biblical story of Moses in the bulrushes. This primal imagery evokes a sense of hope, security, and the cyclical nature of life, resonating with the viewer's own subconscious longings for safety and continuity. Such imagery connects our past with our present. The impulse to care for the vulnerable is woven into the fabric of our collective memory.