Gezicht op Rotterdam gezien vanaf de Draaibrug 1835

This print, "View of Rotterdam from the Draaibrug," was created by Huib van Hove Bz. Dominating this detailed cityscape is the towering church spire, a symbol deeply rooted in the collective consciousness of communities throughout time. Observe how the spire reaches towards the heavens, an aspiration reflected in countless religious structures across cultures, from ancient obelisks to Gothic cathedrals. Consider the evolution of this reaching gesture; originally, it may have represented mankind's ambition to connect with the divine, a kind of reaching for God. Over centuries, its significance has expanded, taking on meanings associated with power, progress, and the unyielding spirit of human aspiration. Just as the spire embodies cultural memory, its reflection in the water serves as a potent symbol of introspection. We can reflect upon the image of ourselves, our societies, and the echoes of our past that reverberate into the present. The image's cyclical nature serves to show us how symbols reappear, evolve, and acquire new meanings in different contexts.