Vrees 1675 - 1737

Pieter van den Berge created this watercolor titled ‘Vrees,’ meaning fear, sometime between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Van den Berge lived in an era marked by significant social and political upheaval in the Netherlands, with power struggles amongst different political factions. Here, a lone figure stands barefoot, with a look of sheer terror etched on their face. The loose, flowing garment they wear could be interpreted in many ways; perhaps it represents vulnerability, or perhaps it is meant to convey a sense of madness. In either case, this figure is somehow set apart from the rest of society. With hands raised in a defensive gesture, they seem to be warding off an unseen threat, alone in a landscape rendered with muted colors that amplify the emotional weight of the scene. The artwork taps into our primal understanding of fear, showing how overwhelming the emotion can be when we feel isolated and exposed.