Gezicht op de Schouwburg op het Leidseplein in Amsterdam bij avond 1787

This is Hermanus Petrus Schouten's "View of the Theater on Leidseplein in Amsterdam at Night," rendered around 1786. Note how the moon, a symbol of the night and mystery, hangs in the sky, witnessing the theatergoers as they spill out onto the square. The moon, a celestial body associated with change, cycles, and the feminine, has long been a potent symbol. One sees echoes of it in ancient lunar deities, such as the Greek goddess Selene, who drove her chariot across the night sky. It is a constant, yet ever-changing presence. Think about how the moon's phases mirror the human condition – waxing and waning, birth and death, joy and sorrow. It’s a reminder of the cyclical nature of life, a theme that recurs in art across millennia. It invites us to consider the eternal dance of light and darkness, echoing the dramas unfolding within the theater itself. It remains in our collective memory, constantly shifting meaning.