Gezicht op een spoorwegviaduct in Amsterdam 1851 - 1902

Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande rendered this view of a railway viaduct in Amsterdam using etching. The image presents a tranquil harbor scene, but what truly strikes is the motif of the arch, embodied by the bridge in the background. Since antiquity, the arch has stood as a symbol of transition and connection. It is not merely structural; it’s a psychological passage. Think of Roman triumphal arches, gateways to power and conquest, or even the archways in Renaissance paintings that frame sacred or transformative events. Here, the railway bridge signifies modern progress, echoing the ancient desire to connect and overcome, yet now with the starkness of industrial advancement. This bridge connects to the arches found in Gothic cathedrals, which elevate the eye, and subsequently the soul, upwards to the divine. This image brings forward the cyclical nature of human ambition, where old forms gain new life, forever seeking to bridge the gap between ourselves and the unknown.