Riviergezicht met herder in maanlicht 1741 - 1820

This moonlit river scene was etched by Abraham Delfos in the late 18th century. A solitary shepherd sits beneath a tree, while cattle drink peacefully by the water's edge. Above, the moon casts a silvery glow, evoking a sense of serene contemplation, and a feeling of awe. Consider the moon, a symbol revered across cultures. Its waxing and waning have long mirrored cycles of life, death, and rebirth. In ancient mythologies, the moon was often a female deity, a lunar goddess associated with intuition and the subconscious. Think of the Greek goddess Selene, or the Roman Luna, both presiding over the night, their light guiding travelers through darkness. The moon’s presence in this tranquil river scene subtly hints at the hidden currents of emotion. It speaks to our primal connection to the rhythms of nature. The moon in art is not static, its essence transformed by time and cultural context. It reflects our enduring fascination with the celestial, and the eternal dance between light and shadow.