Nehalennia-altaar, pl. VII 1843 - 1845

Tiemen Hooiberg created this engraving of the Nehalennia altar, capturing its fragmented beauty. Nehalennia, a goddess of the sea and fertility, is depicted here amidst symbols of prosperity and safe passage. Notice the recurring motif of fruit— a basket overflowing with apples, a symbol stretching back to antiquity, representing abundance, immortality, and temptation. The act of offering, seen here with the fruits, echoes through time, from ancient harvest rituals to Christian iconography. Think of Eve offering the apple, a parallel that reflects a deep-seated human preoccupation with nourishment, life, and the consequences of our choices. These symbols are not static; they evolve. What once represented simple bounty now carries layers of cultural memory, influencing our subconscious understanding. The altar is a potent reminder of how images persist, adapt, and continue to affect our collective psyche.