Vier Stromen Fontein 1664

This is a print of the Fountain of the Four Rivers, featuring an ancient Egyptian obelisk, whose stones are covered in hieroglyphs. The obelisk stands tall, crowned with a dove bearing an olive branch. This form, derived from ancient Egypt, carries connotations of power, knowledge, and connection to the divine. The snake next to it represents healing and rebirth, a symbol found in ancient Greece with Asclepius. But here it is juxtaposed with the rigidity of the obelisk; the snake introduces a dynamic element to the otherwise static Egyptian monument, which brings a feeling of tension. Over time, obelisks have been reimagined. They resurface in different times and places to convey authority and triumph. The dove, initially a symbol of peace and the soul, appears here bearing an olive branch. What does it say of the people to want this symbol on top of a monument of power? This complex interplay of symbols leaves the viewer to ponder the cyclical nature of history.