Woning met daarvoor een paal en een stapel stenen before 1897

Christiaan Johan Neeb captured this image of a dwelling, complete with a pole and a stack of stones, in a photograph. The pole, boldly erected in front of the house, immediately brings to mind ancient obelisks, those silent witnesses to history's unfolding drama. Throughout time, cultures have raised vertical objects as symbols of power and connection to the divine. Think of the totem poles of indigenous cultures or the maypoles of European traditions. These symbols, like the pole in Neeb’s photograph, serve as conduits between the earthly and spiritual realms, anchoring communities to their heritage. The stones, piled high in the background, evoke images of ancient cairns. These human-made stacks of stones have marked sacred sites and memorialized pivotal events for millennia. These primal gestures—raising poles and stacking stones—tap into our collective memory, reminding us of humanity's enduring quest for meaning. Just like the archetypal images that repeat in our dreams, they echo through time, connecting us to past generations. This image invites us to contemplate the simple yet profound act of creating monuments, and to reflect on the stories they silently tell.