Veere, schutsluis in aanbouw 1871 - 1878

Pieter Oosterhuis captured the ‘Veere, Schutsluis in aanbouw’ with photography, preserving a moment of intense human endeavor. The image pulses with a collective energy. See the figures meticulously laboring, and the circular structures dominating the scene, these evoke the ancient symbol of the wheel, an emblem of progress and cyclical change. The wheel is a deeply embedded motif, recurring in diverse epochs and cultures. Its presence here isn't merely structural, it's a nod to our ceaseless striving to control nature. The wheel is a symbol, which in antiquity, was a solar symbol connected with the god of light, and in Buddhism, the Dharmachakra (wheel of law) represents the teachings of Buddha and the path to enlightenment. Consider how our subconscious yearnings for mastery over nature have evolved and been transmuted through time, always resurfacing in new forms and contexts. This construction is a powerful symbol of our collective ambition.