Gebouwen aan het water 1909

This sketch, "Gebouwen aan het water" (Buildings on the Water), by Johan Antonie de Jonge captures buildings nestled beside water, enveloped by trees rendered in graphite. The windows that pierce the buildings’ facades offer us a view into the souls of these buildings, echoing the ancient Roman concept of the ‘oculus,’ or eye, inviting light and perhaps divine insight. Throughout art history, the window appears as a powerful motif. From Renaissance paintings where a window frames a distant landscape, symbolizing hope and possibility, to the somber, solitary windows in Edward Hopper’s works reflecting isolation, the window shape is a frame within a frame. Here, in de Jonge’s sketch, windows suggest not just openings to the outside world but also to our inner selves. Just as the melancholic sea maiden Ophelia descends into the water, so too does the reflective quality of water in this drawing invite introspection and a profound connection with the subconscious. These symbols are a testament to how certain images continue their journey through time, constantly re-emerging, evolving, and reshaping our perceptions.