Het nieuw vermakelijk / ganzenspel / Le nouveau jeu d'Oie 1833 - 1911

This delightful game board, "Het nieuw vermakelijk ganzenspel," was created by Brepols & Dierckx Zoon. The goose, prominently featured, isn't merely a bird, but a symbol laden with meaning. In ancient Egypt, it represented the sun god Ra, its honking call heralding the dawn. Notice how the goose leads us through a winding path, a journey of chance and fortune, with its roots stretching back to ancient board games, where the spiral symbolized life's unpredictable journey. The image of people seated around a table calls to mind similar gatherings found in many cultures, from Da Vinci's "Last Supper" to Dutch Golden Age paintings of convivial gatherings. It embodies a shared space, an arena where fate and human interaction intertwine. The goose and the path remind us that life, like a game, is a dance of chance and choice.