Uithoorn, Pastorie 1890 - 1920

This is a vintage postcard, likely from the early 20th century, by F.J. Vermeulen, titled "Uithoorn, Pastorie." The composition, characterized by its symmetrical balance, is immediately striking. The central focus is a robust two-story building, likely a parsonage, flanked by mature trees on either side, creating a frame that draws the eye inward. The building’s facade is divided into two distinct color blocks, light on the left and dark on the right, adding a layer of structural intrigue that hints at the underlying dialectic of light and shadow, presence and absence. This play is further complicated by the figures within the composition, one on the balcony and another at the entrance, who introduce a human element that disrupts the otherwise rigid symmetry of the structure. The use of color and shading is subtle, almost muted, which evokes a sense of nostalgia and timelessness. The trees, with their thick, leafy canopies, function as both a foreground element and a symbolic barrier, blurring the lines between public and private space. It encapsulates the formal tension between order and chaos, reflecting broader philosophical concerns about how we construct our environments.