Gezicht op Nijmegen vanuit het noorden 1738

Jan Ruyter's panorama, "View of Nijmegen from the North," captures the essence of 18th-century Dutch life with striking clarity. Note the prominence of the waterways, teeming with boats of varied sizes. Waterways were not only a means of trade and transportation; they were vital arteries connecting communities and facilitating the exchange of ideas. Consider how the movement of water echoes the continuous flow of cultural and economic exchange. The presence of livestock and figures engaged in daily activities suggests a harmonious relationship between humanity and nature. In ancient mythologies, cattle are symbols of prosperity, fertility and abundance. One cannot help but think about the way similar motifs have been preserved across diverse epochs and geographical boundaries. The collective unconscious resonates with images that speak to fundamental human needs and aspirations.