Italianiserend landschap met wagen bij herberg 1652 - 1728

This small landscape was etched by an anonymous artist, depicting a scene of travelers resting by a roadside inn. The most striking motif is the open road itself, snaking through a landscape of distant mountains. Historically, the road is a potent symbol of journey, pilgrimage, and the passage of time. Think of the Roman roads, arteries of empire, or the Silk Road, a conduit for cultural exchange. The figures pause at an inn, a place of rest but also a crossroads, a space where stories and destinies intersect. Consider how the road appears in the myth of Oedipus, leading him unwittingly to his tragic fate, or in the tale of the prodigal son, whose journey home signifies repentance and redemption. The image of the road taps into our collective unconscious, evoking the human desire for exploration, the search for meaning, and the eternal cycle of departure and return. Even in its humble execution, this small print resonates with a sense of timeless human experience.