Gezicht op de Dam met het Paleis op de Dam en 'Naatje' ofwel De Eendracht, Amsterdam 1900 - 1902

This photograph captures the Dam Square in Amsterdam, featuring the Paleis op de Dam and the statue known as 'Naatje' or 'De Eendracht,' sometime in the late 19th century. The statue of 'De Eendracht,' embodies unity and harmony, a concept deeply rooted in classical antiquity. We find echoes of this ideal in depictions of Concordia, the Roman goddess of agreement, whose image adorned coins and public monuments, symbolizing the aspiration for social cohesion. Notice how the statue stands tall, reminiscent of a protective deity overlooking the bustling square. This harks back to the ancient Greek concept of the polis, where civic life was intertwined with the sacred, and images of gods were ever-present, fostering a sense of collective identity. The monument, like a collective dream, connects the city's past aspirations for harmony with its present reality.