Gezicht op Trafalgar Square te Londen 1888 - 1891

Willem Witsen sketched this view of Trafalgar Square in London with graphite on paper. The arches and stone buildings evoke a sense of enduring strength and historical continuity, reminiscent of triumphal arches from ancient Roman art. Arches, historically, have served as potent symbols of victory, power, and transition. We see them in the Arch of Titus, commemorating Roman victories, and later, repurposed in Christian architecture as portals to sacred spaces, suggesting a transformation. Witsen's arches perhaps speak to London's imperial ambitions and its role as a gateway to a vast empire. Consider how arches, as architectural motifs, have also seeped into our collective unconscious. Their shape and function evoke a sense of passing through—a rite of passage—connecting spaces and times. This primal symbolism taps into our deep-seated psychological need for transition and continuity, suggesting a psychological impact that transcends mere architectural function. The arch is not only a structure but also a powerful emotional and cultural symbol.