Oosterkerk te Hoorn 1850 - 1900

This is a photograph of the Oosterkerk in Hoorn, captured by De Vries & Huijsen Jr. The church's facade features a rose window, a symbol rich in history, and a clock, representing temporality and mortality. The rose window, with its circular form and radiating patterns, recalls the wheel of fortune, a motif of fate and cyclical change. You can see the wheel appearing throughout history, from ancient Roman mosaics to medieval cathedrals. Similarly, the clock reminds us of "Tempus Fugit", a common visual motif found in vanitas paintings, illustrating the swift passage of time. Over time, these symbols have evolved. While the wheel symbolized the divine order, and the clock symbolized the cosmic order, they have evolved into symbols of progress and modernity. However, they are still able to provoke subconscious contemplation on the ephemerality of existence. The emotional weight of these symbols lingers, engaging viewers in a deep, psychological dialogue. These symbols resurface time and again, revealing the enduring power of cultural memory.