The Valkhof in Nijmegen 1641

Jan van Goyen painted the Valkhof in Nijmegen with oil on panel, capturing a scene dominated by the imposing fortress. The fortress, more than just a building, symbolizes power, security, and the historical weight of the region. Notice the boat filled with figures crossing the river; water, a motif used across time, can represent the passage of life, a boundary, or a journey from one state to another. Think of the River Styx in Greek mythology or the ritualistic baptisms in Christianity. In van Goyen’s painting, the water is a threshold, a connection between different realms of existence. The heavy, clouded sky evokes a sense of melancholy, almost like a psychological projection of the viewer's own internal state. This emotional depth is not unique; we see similar atmospheric resonances in the works of Turner, where the sky becomes a mirror reflecting human emotions. The fortress and river, charged with historical and emotional significance, connect to a non-linear, cyclical progression of symbols, ever resurfacing and evolving.