Gezicht op de Nieuwe Brug en het Paalhuis aan het IJ te Amsterdam 18th century

This view of the Nieuwe Brug and Paalhuis in Amsterdam, captured by Basset, presents a bustling scene brimming with the symbols of civic life. The most prominent feature is the Paalhuis, its architecture a testament to Amsterdam’s mercantile power, with the clock face indicating the regulation of time – key to trade and commerce. The clock, a symbol of order and progress, reminds me of the sundials on ancient Roman buildings, also intended to regulate civic duties, but relying on the sun's trajectory rather than a manufactured mechanism. The horse-drawn cart laden with goods, reappears throughout history, linking the advancements of the Dutch Golden Age, with earlier Roman trade routes. One is reminded of the powerful, psychological link to wealth and prosperity in a society increasingly defined by global trade. These cycles echo through time, engaging us on a deep, subconscious level.