Toren van de Oude Kerk in Delft 1897

Wijnand Otto Jan Nieuwenkamp’s etching captures Delft’s Oude Kerk, dominated by its leaning tower. The tower itself, with its precarious tilt, becomes a symbol. Throughout history, towers have been associated with ambition, power, and connection to the divine, yet they also speak of hubris. Think of the Tower of Babel, a monument to human pride that met divine intervention. The Oude Kerk’s tower, however, leans, suggesting not an aspiration to the heavens, but an acceptance of earthly imperfections. It is a reminder of the precarious nature of human endeavors. This off-kilter steeple evokes feelings of uncertainty and instability. This image serves as a potent reminder that even the most ambitious constructions are subject to time, decay, and the ever-present forces of the earth. The image has a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. We see a challenge to our assumptions about permanence and stability. The image challenges our perception of what is right and wrong, crooked and straight.