The Great Waterway of Elsen c. 16th century

Curator: Hans Collaert the Elder offers us a serene vista in "The Great Waterway of Elsen," currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's like a snapshot from a storybook! Everyone seems to be going about their day, with such calm industriousness. Curator: Consider how water features in symbolic imagery—it's about purification, the subconscious, and, of course, the constant flow of time and change. Editor: The bridge! It's almost like a liminal space, a crossing over into another realm or state of mind. It gives me the shivers, but in a nice way. Curator: Indeed, bridges signify transitions. Collaert’s mastery lies in weaving together these symbols to evoke a sense of timeless pastoral life. Editor: It makes me want to trade my phone for a walking stick! Maybe that's the point, a longing for a simpler, connected life. Curator: Perhaps Collaert reminds us of the enduring human connection to the natural world. Editor: Well, it worked on me. Time for a hike!