Straatgezicht in Amsterdam tijdens de Wereldtentoonstelling van 1895 1895

This photograph, taken in Amsterdam during the 1895 World Exhibition by Guy de Coral & Co., captures a street scene dominated by the imposing architecture of the time. Arches, with their rounded forms and weighty presence, loom large in the composition. These arches are not mere structural elements, but rather visual echoes of triumphal arches and city gates throughout history. From ancient Roman aqueducts to Renaissance cathedral entrances, the archway has long been a symbol of power, passage, and transition. The recurrence of this motif speaks to a deep-seated human need to define and monumentalize space, shaping our experience of the urban environment. In this context, the archway suggests a gateway to new possibilities, a portal through which both goods and ideas flowed during this era of global exchange and innovation. It embodies both the promise of progress and the enduring human desire to leave a lasting mark on the world.