Dakbedekking before 1909

Willem Witsen made this drawing of rooftops with pencil on paper. In this sketch, the tiled rooftop looms, a symbol of domesticity and shelter, yet here, it's fragmented, incomplete. Consider the grid-like pattern of the roof tiles. This motif echoes through art history, from ancient Roman mosaics to the patterned surfaces in Gustav Klimt's paintings. The grid, often a symbol of order and control, contrasts with the organic, imperfect nature of the rooftop itself. This juxtaposition brings to mind the tension between the human desire to impose structure on the world and the inevitable chaos of existence. These rooftops evoke deep, subconscious associations; they speak to our primal need for safety and belonging. This image reminds us that even the most familiar symbols are subject to the relentless flow of time and change.