Gezicht op Hamadan 1843 - 1854

Eugène Flandin's "Gezicht op Hamadan" presents us with a seemingly straightforward vista, yet within it lies a deep well of symbols. Dominating the foreground are the millstones, ancient tools of labor and sustenance. The wheel, an emblem of cyclical time, and the grindstones suggest the relentless turning of human effort. This echoes in ancient mythologies where the wheel is often associated with fate and the cosmos. Think of the "Rota Fortunae," the Wheel of Fortune, an enduring symbol of life's unpredictable nature. The act of grinding itself carries potent symbolic weight. It reduces, refines, and transforms—much like how experiences shape us. These stones, silent witnesses to countless seasons, connect us to an unbroken chain of human endeavor. They remind us that our actions, like the turning of a wheel, resonate through time, leaving their mark on the landscape of history. In this Hamadan scene, we are invited to reflect on the enduring human spirit.