Een man en vrouw drinken koffie of thee in de tuin 1690 - 1700

This print, by Jan Broedelet, depicts a man and woman enjoying coffee or tea in a garden. Note how the cups they hold are like miniature chalices, a subtle echo of religious vessels used in sacred rituals. Consider the shared cup as a motif of communion, reappearing through history—from ancient symposiums to religious ceremonies. This sharing is not merely about quenching thirst; it's about shared experience. It suggests the psychological bond formed through collective memory and subconscious echoes of past rituals. Like the symbolic passing of knowledge, the offering of the cup mirrors the act of transmission. This simple gesture conveys intense emotional states of offering, reception, and reciprocal exchange, engaging us on a primal level. Just as the meaning of the Eucharist has evolved, so too has the simple act of sharing a drink taken on layers of social and personal significance.