Gezicht op de Palmgracht bij de Kromme Palmstraat in Amsterdam Possibly 1895 - 1898

This photograph captures a view of the Palmgracht in Amsterdam by George Hendrik Breitner. The scene presents us with canal houses whose steep gables evoke a sense of upward striving. Now, consider the gable: it is not merely architectural. It is the vestige of a primal urge to reach upwards, as seen in the ziggurats of Mesopotamia. It’s a visual echo resonating through time, a shared aspiration embedded in our collective psyche. The water's surface reflects these houses, creating an inverted image that doubles the architectural forms. This duplication can be viewed as a representation of our own internal reflections, mirroring our aspirations. The image captures a moment in time, yet the reflections in the water suggest an eternal return, a cyclical repetition inherent in the human condition.