Drie vissers aan de oever van een rivier 1634 - 1693

Jonas Umbach created this etching, "Three Fishermen on the Bank of a River," capturing a serene landscape imbued with symbolic undertones. The fishermen, central to the composition, evoke ancient archetypes of sustenance and contemplation. Fishing itself, as a motif, resonates across cultures and epochs. We find it depicted in ancient Egyptian art, symbolizing the provision of life, and it reappears in Christian iconography as a metaphor for spiritual nourishment, recall Jesus's calling of the apostles as "fishers of men". Consider the psychological weight of this act: the patient waiting, the anticipation of a catch, the reliance on both skill and chance. Fishing can be seen as a metaphor for our endeavors in life, where we cast our hopes into the currents of existence, awaiting what fortune may bring. In Umbach's tranquil scene, the fishermen embody our collective yearning for harmony with nature and the simple rewards it offers. This scene taps into our cultural memory, reminding us of the timeless connection between humanity and the natural world, a connection that continues to evolve and resurface in our art.