Allegorische voorstelling met Poëzie, Apollo en muzen 1721

This allegorical print by Jan Wandelaar, made around 1721, presents us with a tableau of poetry, Apollo, and the Muses. At its heart sits Poetry, a book in her lap, poised between inspiration and reflection. Consider Apollo, half-man, half-horse—a centaur—playing his lyre, a symbol of harmony and enlightenment since antiquity. We find echoes of this hybrid form in ancient Greek art, where centaurs embody the dual nature of man. Wandelaar's Apollo carries the figure of Poetry into the realm of immortality. Note how this contrasts with the imagery of the dark figures on the right side. Are they the personifications of death or slumber? It is not clear, but their shadowy presence creates an interplay of opposing forces that engage the viewer on a deep subconscious level. Such symbols, like stars in the night sky, offer guidance across the epochs. They invite us to ponder the cyclical nature of history and the enduring power of symbols to evolve and find new life in different contexts.