Domhuset i Ouderkerk aan de Amstel 1625 - 1657

This etching of the Domhuset in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel was made by Geertruyt Roghman in the 17th century. Look at the prominent church spire, a strong symbol of community and spiritual life. The spire, a motif stretching back through the ages, reminds us of the Tower of Babel, and the human desire to reach the divine. Note, too, how this architectural symbol stands in contrast to the domestic tranquility of the houses, each with their well pumps that were necessary for daily life, their presence a sign of communal reliance, as the village would have shared the source of water. Such symbols trigger a kind of collective memory. These images are not just representations of space, but emotional and cultural reservoirs. The composition of the landscape, the spire, evokes a profound sense of rootedness and the silent language of shared existence. It’s a scene that pulls us, subconsciously, back to simpler, shared times.