Brug Hollandsch-Diep (Spoorbrug over het Hollands Diep bij Moerdijk] 1871

Pieter Oosterhuis captured this image of the Hollandsch-Diep bridge, featuring its imposing towers and the vanishing point of the railway track. The bridge itself is a symbol of modernity, an assertion of technological progress characteristic of its time. Consider the towers, crowned with masts. They echo ancient watchtowers, once vital for defense. These were the silent sentinels of the past, which now oversee a new form of crossing. This transformation reminds us of how we continuously seek to master our environment. We see this aspiration reflected throughout history, from the Roman aqueducts to the Gothic cathedrals that sought to reach the heavens. The towers speak to the subconscious desire for connection and control. It’s a cycle of creating structures that both protect and propel us forward.