Dag en nacht op Aarde 1706

Sébastien Leclerc I created this artwork, Dag en nacht op Aarde, using etching. At its heart, we see a sphere bisected into light and shadow. This division echoes ancient notions of duality – order and chaos, consciousness and the unconscious. Such symbols are not confined to Leclerc’s era. We find them mirrored across time, from the Yin and Yang of Chinese philosophy to the opposing forces in Zoroastrianism. Consider how light has evolved as a symbol. In the early days of Christianity, light represented divine illumination, but the Renaissance saw its integration into art, symbolizing knowledge. Leclerc's division of the sphere reflects this understanding. Light and dark serve as powerful psychological triggers. Light is the manifestation of hope, while darkness embodies the unknown. These symbols, deeply rooted in our collective psyche, persist through time, evolving yet retaining the ability to stir emotions and memories.