Landschap c. 1790

This sepia drawing, "Landschap," by J.H. de Friderici, shows figures walking and hunting amidst a rich landscape. The prominent trees act as silent observers, their forms deeply rooted in the earth, reaching towards the sky. The presence of figures on horseback and on foot, accompanied by dogs, points to the ancient motif of the hunt. These activities have echoed through millennia, from the royal hunts depicted in ancient Assyrian reliefs to the medieval tapestries that adorned castle walls. Consider the ‘Wild Hunt’ legends, where spectral figures traverse the skies, a thrilling and terrifying display of power and fate. The landscape itself plays a vital role. Trees, like those towering here, are often symbols of life, growth, and connection between the earthly and spiritual realms. One can think of Yggdrasil, the world tree in Norse mythology, or even the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden. Their presence engages our collective memory, evoking a sense of timeless continuity and cyclical change. The artist invites us to acknowledge the non-linear journey of symbols—how they resurface, evolve, and find new life in different historical contexts.