Schets van een waterput 1773 - 1843

This is Georges Michel’s delicate sketch of a water well, rendered with graphite. The well, a symbol ubiquitous throughout human history, speaks volumes. In its most practical sense, it represents sustenance and survival, the essential element of water drawn from the depths. But consider too, its metaphorical weight. The well is also a place of gathering, a communal space where stories are shared and relationships forged. We see wells depicted in countless artworks across time. Think of the biblical Rebecca at the well, a scene imbued with themes of destiny and divine providence. Like the ouroboros, the well embodies cyclical renewal and the eternal return. The act of drawing water is itself a repetition, a ritual. In psychological terms, the well may represent the unconscious, the hidden depths from which creativity and primal instincts emerge. It holds a certain emotional power, reminding us of our dependence on nature and each other. The image of the well persists, resurfacing in art and culture, constantly reshaped by our collective memory.