Fontein op een plein in Rome 1675 - 1711

This etching depicts a fountain in a Roman square. The fountain, adorned with shell-like basins, symbolizes not just water but the life-giving essence that has been central to civilization since antiquity. Consider the scallop shell motif. It appears not only in classical depictions of Venus, goddess of love and beauty, born from the sea, but also becomes a symbol of pilgrimage, adorning the cloak of Saint James. The scallop evolves, mirroring the human longing for both earthly pleasures and spiritual salvation. This fountain, with its cascading water and shell forms, taps into a deep-seated, almost primal connection to water as a source of life and renewal. The rhythmic flow of water, the reflective surface – it invites contemplation, a moment of introspection. The enduring image of the shell, from pagan goddess to Christian saint, illustrates the fascinating, non-linear journey of symbols through time.