Plattegronden van twee verdiepingen c. 1864

Here we see Willem Springer Jr.’s “Plattegronden van twee verdiepingen,” a work outlining architectural space. The window, repeated along the walls, emerges as a powerful motif. Historically, windows have been more than mere architectural elements. They are liminal spaces, framing the boundary between interior and exterior, public and private. The repetition of windows, and their placement in an ordered sequence, echoes similar patterns found in ancient Roman floor plans. The grid and rhythm reflect a desire to bring light and air into domestic spaces. From a psychoanalytic perspective, windows invite a sense of longing. They represent the desire to reach beyond our immediate surroundings, perhaps toward the unknown. They are a means to define our place in the cosmos. As an image, “Plattegronden van twee verdiepingen” is a recurring theme, continually reappearing in modern life, underscoring how our fascination with architectural symbolism continues to engage us on a deep, subconscious level.