Staande stier c. 1657 - 1761

Marcus de Bye etched this "Standing Bull" in the Dutch Golden Age. The bull, a symbol of strength and virility, strides from its ancient roots in Minoan culture, where it was a sacred animal, all the way to Wall Street’s Charging Bull, a symbol of financial optimism. Consider the bull’s posture here – a moment of pause, a deep breath before the charge. In ancient myths, the bull embodies not just brute force but also divine power, think of Zeus transforming into a bull to abduct Europa. Over time, the bull's symbolism has been internalized, evolving into a representation of raw, untamed human emotion. This image taps into our collective memory, resonating with subconscious notions of power, aggression, and primal energy. It's a dance of cultural memory, each era reinterpreting and projecting its fears and desires onto this enduring figure. The bull continues its journey through the ages, forever charging through our cultural consciousness.