Panden langs de Grote Markt te Groningen c. 1880 - 1900

Captured by Johannes Gerardus Kramer, this photograph presents the Panden langs de Grote Markt te Groningen. These buildings are marked by step gables and ornamented facades. The stepped gable is a key motif here, which echoes a yearning for elevation, reaching towards the heavens. These gables, once symbols of civic pride and architectural innovation, became quintessential features of northern European urban landscapes, and in earlier times, of sacred architecture. Think of the ziggurats of ancient Mesopotamia, or the pyramids of Egypt. The subconscious architectural language carries with it collective memory and subconscious processes affecting its production and interpretation. The emotional weight of these forms lies in their aspiration. Despite shifts in architectural styles, the motif of upward movement persists, evolving yet echoing a primordial human drive. This is a non-linear, cyclical progression of a symbol that resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.