Fotoreproducties van Waterval met kasteel door Jacob van Ruisdael en Eenden door Melchior d'Hondecoeter c. 1866 - 1874

Here we have photographic reproductions, created by an anonymous hand, of paintings by Jacob van Ruisdael and Melchior d'Hondecoeter. The image of Ruisdael’s waterfall with a castle invokes the sublime power of nature, a theme echoed across centuries. Consider the waterfall itself – a symbol of both destructive force and life-giving water. It echoes similar motifs in ancient Roman fountains, where water symbolizes power and purification. In contrast, the waterfowl depicted by d'Hondecoeter reminds us of domesticity, where birds often represent the soul or spiritual messengers, a role they also play in ancient mythologies. These birds recur in later Dutch art, evolving from religious symbols to emblems of wealth and status, as well as embodying a longing for harmony with nature. These motifs invite us to reflect on the cyclical nature of symbols, as these resurface through generations, each time coloured by the anxieties and aspirations of a new age.