Twee foto's van Volendam en Broek in Waterland, mei 1924 1924 - 1925

These photographs, taken by Hendrik Herman van den Berg in May 1924, offer us glimpses into Volendam and Broek in Waterland. Note the church tower in the right-hand image, a form that stretches back to the ancient ziggurats, temples of Mesopotamia, designed to bridge the earthly and divine realms. The steeple atop this church is a later echo, now Christianized, yet still striving to touch the heavens. Consider how the pointed arch, common in Gothic architecture, directs the eye upward, inspiring a sense of aspiration and spiritual longing. Churches often serve as a focal point for a town, not only physically but also as a symbolic representation of communal identity and shared beliefs. This archetype is a powerful force, re-emerging across cultures and epochs, illustrating our timeless yearning for transcendence.