Gezicht op de Hervormde Kerk te Dussen 1908

This photograph captures the Reformed Church in Dussen, its facade partially obscured by scaffolding, evidence of labor. The church, with its spire reaching towards the heavens, is a potent symbol. It echoes ancient desires to connect with the divine, seen in ziggurats and pyramids across cultures. Notice how the builders, suspended between earth and spire, recall the figures ascending Jacob's Ladder. This ladder, a conduit between the earthly and celestial realms, appears in myriad forms throughout art history—from medieval depictions of the soul's ascent to modern allegories of spiritual striving. The scaffolding itself is a temporary structure that reminds us of the constant construction, destruction, and reconstruction that forms our collective memory. The act of building, whether physical or spiritual, is a fundamental human impulse, a testament to our enduring quest for meaning. This photograph invites reflection on the cyclical nature of belief and the symbols that persist, transforming yet retaining their emotional core, across time.