Sokkel met vrouwfiguur en riviergoden van het IJ en de Amstel 1661

This undated print presents us with an allegorical vision of Amsterdam's city hall. The reclining figures at the base are river gods representing the IJ and Amstel, the waterways vital to the city's trade and prosperity. Water flows endlessly from the Amstel’s urn, an ancient symbol of life-giving sustenance. The river god motif stretches back to antiquity; we see similar figures adorning Roman fountains and even earlier in Mesopotamian art. These river deities symbolize not only physical geography but also the unpredictable forces of nature and the subconscious. In each era, the symbolism adapts. The image's emotional power lies in its evocation of abundance and security. The river gods, rendered with classical serenity, project an aura of timeless protection. This visual language taps into a collective yearning for stability, a desire that transcends time and place, and resurfaces in art across centuries.