Herberg het Molentje aan de Amstel 1810 - 1815

Anthonie van den Bos created this image of Herberg het Molentje aan de Amstel using etching. Here, the building itself stands as a symbol of both refuge and the mundane. In earlier times, houses were not just shelters but also bore a deeper symbolic weight. The hearth, with its chimney rising towards the heavens, was a powerful symbol across cultures, representing the center of the home and the family's connection to both the earth and the divine. Consider the hearth as a motif: from ancient Roman temples where the sacred flame burned perpetually, to the domestic hearths of medieval Europe where families gathered for warmth and sustenance. This motif evolves, appearing in different guises, yet always anchored to the idea of a central point of life and continuity. The image of a modest inn, therefore, touches upon deep-seated memories and collective understandings. It subtly engages our emotions, reminding us of the elemental human need for shelter and community.