1 mei 1899

This etching by Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst, titled "1 Mei," presents us with a scene of three children, rich with symbols of spring and renewal. Note how the child on the left carries a bouquet, a clear signifier of the May Day celebrations, a tradition rooted in ancient agricultural rituals to celebrate the fertility of the land. The raised hat and the budding staff held by the boy are gestures of jubilation and growth, echoes of the Roman Floralia, honoring the goddess of flowers, Flora. Observe how this motif of raised hands appears across cultures—from ancient Egyptian depictions of adoration to Christian iconography of prayer. In each instance, it signifies a reaching out, a connection to something beyond oneself. The image is charged with the innocence and hope associated with youth, and reflects a deeper, primal urge to celebrate the earth's regenerative powers. This yearning, deeply embedded in our collective psyche, resurfaces each spring, reminding us of the cyclical nature of life and the enduring power of nature's promise.