Gezicht op de ophaalbrug tussen de Kalkmarkt en het 's Gravenhekje in Amsterdam c. 1911

Willem Witsen etched this view of the bridge between Kalkmarkt and 's Gravenhekje in Amsterdam using black ink. The bridge, an ancient symbol of transition and connection, dominates the background of the composition, but it does not allow passage to other people. The water, its surface reflecting the scene above, reminds us of the depths of the subconscious, the flowing undercurrents of history and memory. From the earliest civilizations to the present day, water has represented both life and chaos, a mirror to our own souls. The boat in the foreground becomes a vessel, carrying not cargo, but the weight of unspoken stories and collective experiences. The image is a poignant reminder of how symbols persist and transform, rippling through time. They engage us on a primal level, tapping into the wellspring of human emotion. This is our collective unconscious.