Huis (Amsterdam) c. 1860 - 1915

This photogravure of a house in Amsterdam was created by Willem Witsen. Here we see the house partially obscured by trees: an earthly boundary, much like the fence. Trees, universal symbols of life and growth, connect the earth to the sky. They have been venerated across cultures, as a connection between the human and the divine, seen in ancient Greek sacred groves, and in Buddhist traditions of enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. The architectural elements of the house, the orderly shutters and defined structure, stand for humanity's attempt to contain and control nature. The tension between these two is palpable. Just as Renaissance paintings balanced classical and Christian elements, this photo presents a dialogue between wild nature and structured human spaces. This interplay taps into our collective memories, a reminder of our ongoing negotiation with the natural world, reflecting our deepest fears, hopes and desires.