Molen bij de Hoornbrug te Rijswijk Possibly 1894 - 1895

Henri de Louw captured this albumen print of the mill by Hoornbrug in Rijswijk. At first glance, the windmill seems merely a functional structure, yet it is imbued with deeper symbolic weight. A symbol of human innovation, harnessing natural forces, windmills have long occupied a space in the collective consciousness. Think of Don Quixote tilting at windmills, a metaphor for the folly of man's ambitions and the allure of the unattainable. Consider the ancient symbol of the wheel, representing cyclical time, fate, and cosmic order, echoed in the repetitive motion of the sails. Across cultures, the wheel appears in mandalas, Celtic crosses, and alchemical symbols, each reiterating the human quest for understanding and control over our existence. In de Louw’s photograph, the windmill embodies the ceaseless striving inherent in the human condition, an echo of our dreams and struggles. It reminds us that these symbols persist, subtly shaping our perceptions and connecting us to the past.