Gezicht op het Amstel Hotel te Amsterdam 1867 - 1912

Isaac Weissenbruch created this drawing of the Amstel Hotel in Amsterdam using pen and ink. Notice how the image prominently features the hotel and a bridge, symbols of both modernity and connection. The hotel, with its orderly rows of windows, stands as a testament to the late 19th century's optimism toward progress. The bridge, not just a physical structure but a motif, echoes the ancient Roman aqueducts, which channeled life-giving water to the people, embodying continuity and utility. Yet, the bridge also hearkens back to the mythic "bridge of souls," a pathway between worlds. Here, it connects not just the city but the old ways of horse-drawn carriages with the new—note the steam rising from the chimney. This juxtaposition stirs a collective memory of transitions, engaging our subconscious with the emotional weight of change. It touches something deep within us. These symbols blend a desire for progress and a connection to the past and the emotional tug of shifting eras.