Een waterput 1605 - 1673

Here, Lucas van Uden captures a water well with delicate strokes of pen and gray ink. The well, a source of life, is here represented by a wooden structure with a rope and bucket mechanism. Consider the water well, which is more than a mere device. It is a symbol deeply entwined with life, sustenance, and even spiritual cleansing, echoed across cultures from ancient Roman cisterns to baptismal fonts in churches. The act of drawing water from a well—pulling up from the depths—mirrors the psychological process of drawing from the depths of the unconscious. In this context, the well becomes a symbol of both necessity and a conduit to hidden knowledge or spiritual awakening. As it has been passed down through history, the meaning of the well has shifted from a place of gathering to a symbol of introspection. Even in our modern world, the image of the well stirs deep within us, connecting us to primal needs. It reminds us of a time when communities gathered around this essential source.