Gezicht op de Amstel bij herberg Paardenburg 1708 - 1740

This delicate view of the Amstel River by Matthijs Pool presents us with a seemingly simple scene, yet it is rich with symbolic resonance. Dominating the horizon is the church spire, a clear symbol of spiritual aspiration, pointing towards the heavens. It is a beacon, yet its reflection shimmers in the water, suggesting an earthly echo of its divine purpose. The bridge, an emblem of connection and transition, spans the divide, inviting passage between different realms. Consider how these symbols resurface across cultures: the spire echoing the Egyptian obelisk, a conduit to the sun god Ra, or the bridge mirroring the Roman pontifex, builders of literal and metaphorical bridges. The inn or tavern, a place of earthly respite, balances the spiritual aspiration with the human need for conviviality. In this carefully balanced tableau, Pool speaks to our collective memory, evoking the eternal interplay between the sacred and the profane, each shaping the other through time.