Verschillende voorstellingen c. 1828 - 1913

This lithograph by Erve Wijsmuller contains multiple scenes, each a window into different facets of life and imagination. Consider the owl perched prominently, a figure steeped in symbolic weight. Throughout history, across cultures, the owl has been a potent symbol, often associated with wisdom, but also with darkness, and death. Its nocturnal nature links it to the unseen, the subconscious, a messenger from realms beyond our waking consciousness. Think back to ancient Greece, where the owl was sacred to Athena, goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, or consider its presence in indigenous cultures, where it is seen as a guardian of sacred knowledge. Note the difference with its depiction in medieval Europe, associated with witchcraft and ill omens. This duality speaks to a deep-seated ambivalence in the human psyche, a dance between reverence and fear. The image of the owl is a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. It represents how symbols evolve, resurface, and take on new meanings throughout history.