Stier staand bij rots c. 1649 - 1677

Marcus de Bye's etching presents a bull standing in a stark landscape. This image carries echoes of ancient sacrificial rites, where the bull, a symbol of virility and power, was offered to the gods. Consider the Cretan Bull, a beast of mythic strength, or the bull sacrifices in the Mithraic mysteries, where the slaying of the bull brought forth new life. The bull embodies raw, untamed energy, a potent force that has captivated humanity across cultures and eras. Even today, the bull's image persists, from the stock market's bullish optimism to the arena's spectacle of man versus beast. These reappearances of the bull are a testament to its primal resonance. This emblem of potency reveals the persistence of ancient archetypes in our collective consciousness. It remains a psychological echo, embodying deep-seated anxieties and aspirations related to strength, fertility, and mortality. This image is a persistent reminder of our connection to a deeper, more instinctual past.