Gezicht vanuit het huis van de fotograaf richting logement Rondeel, Amsterdam c. 1845 - 1846

This photograph, captured by Eduard Isaac Asser, offers a glimpse into Amsterdam through a window, or perhaps a lens, revealing more than meets the eye. Notice how the city is softly veiled, its architecture rendered with the nascent technology of photography, invoking a sense of discovery. The buildings, sturdy and stoic, are bisected by the waterways. Water, a symbol of fluidity and change, mirrors the skies and the souls of those who dwell nearby. The presence of water is not merely geographical but deeply symbolic. Consider its appearance throughout history, from ancient myths of creation to its role in cleansing rituals. Water’s reflective surface hints at an unseen realm, reminding us that what we perceive is only a fraction of reality. As the ripples of a canal reflect the sky, the collective unconscious of the city resurfaces. A symbol that evolves, adapts, yet eternally remains.