Gezicht op de Waag op de Dam 1713

This anonymous print shows the Waag, or weighing house, in Amsterdam, a place of commerce and public life. Note the scales and figures atop the building, symbols of justice and balance, harking back to ancient Roman depictions of Fortuna with her scales, an embodiment of fate and fairness. Consider the ubiquitous presence of scales throughout history, from the ancient Egyptians weighing souls in the afterlife, to the medieval depictions of the Last Judgment. The act of weighing is not merely a physical process; it resonates with profound moral and existential questions. This symbol, deeply embedded in our collective consciousness, reflects our ongoing quest to understand our value. Even here, amidst the hustle of the market, the scales atop the Waag remind us of our human striving for equilibrium, for justice, a deeply embedded emotional anchor in our communal life. The symbol resurfaces, constantly evolving, yet forever bound to our primal yearning for balance.