Binnen-Amstel met schutsluizen, gezien vanaf het dak van het Amstel Hotel naar het noorden, Amsterdam before 1894

Gerrit Hendricus Heinen created this image of the Binnen-Amstel with its locks in Amsterdam. The Amstel River, the artery of the city, flows through the image, connecting past and present. Waterways have historically symbolized not only transit and commerce but also the flow of life itself. Note how the river’s locks appear as barriers, controlling the lifeblood of Amsterdam. This division reminds me of the ancient Greek concept of the '脐', the naval, symbolizing both connection and separation. Consider how these barriers might unconsciously reflect our inner psychological mechanisms. A defense against the unknown, an attempt to regulate the unpredictable currents of life. In many cultures, water is seen as a source of purification and renewal. Yet, here, it is contained, controlled. Ultimately, Heinen's photograph captures a moment in the eternal dance between nature and human intervention, resonating with deep, archetypal themes.