House of the Dime near Ollon; a tax house in the Canton Vaud 2003

Hubertine Heijermans painted this watercolor of the House of the Dime near Ollon, a tax house in Canton Vaud. The house with its weathered facade and closed shutters, carries a certain symbolic weight, hinting at vigilance, secrets and possibly a quiet resistance. The act of closing and protecting spaces from the outside world appears in art across time, from Renaissance depictions of the Annunciation with Mary in enclosed gardens representing purity, to modern art where closed doors and windows may represent alienation. It is a motif that has evolved, shifting from sacred protection to psychological barriers. The act of collecting taxes in this scene reminds us of the biblical stories of tax collectors, often seen negatively, highlighting the tension between civic duty and personal gain. This contrast has echoes throughout art history, in Dutch Golden Age paintings showing merchants juxtaposed with moral allegories, each presenting a deep, subconscious exploration of wealth and ethics. The viewer is left to consider this building's history within this complex interplay of power, duty, and human nature.