Huifkar geëscorteerd door ruiters 1632 - 1668

Robert van den Hoecke created this etching, titled "Huifkar geëscorteerd door ruiters," sometime in the 17th century. We see a covered wagon escorted by riders, a symbol of travel and status, but it is the grand trees that command our attention. These trees offer more than mere backdrop; they are silent witnesses, rooted deeply in the earth yet reaching skyward. The tree, as a symbol, weaves through time—consider the Tree of Life, a motif found from ancient Assyria to Klimt's shimmering canvases. Its form adapts, yet the underlying essence remains: growth, connection, and the cyclical nature of existence. Here, in van den Hoecke's landscape, the trees also evoke a sense of refuge, underscored by the figures resting beneath their boughs. This is not simply a scene of transit, but an invitation to contemplate our place within the larger, enduring tapestry of nature. Such enduring symbols resonate because they tap into a collective memory, a shared understanding that transcends time.