Duinen en zee 1854 - 1868

This subtle pencil drawing of dunes and sea was made by Johannes Tavenraat in the 19th century. Note the horizon line, a motif stretching back to antiquity, present in everything from ancient Egyptian art to the landscapes of the Dutch Masters. The horizon in art often symbolizes a liminal space, a boundary between the known and the unknown. Think of the sea, which has been a powerful, ambivalent symbol across cultures. It represents both fertility and chaos, safety and danger. Consider how these elements play out in the collective psyche. The ocean, a primal force, evokes deep-seated fears and desires, representing the subconscious itself, with its unfathomable depths. The horizon is a continuous cycle, disappearing and reappearing, ever evolving through time.