Les Roches noirs, bij Villers 1813 - 1869

Paul Huet captured the rugged coast of Villers in this watercolor, emphasizing the imposing black rocks. These rocks, steadfast against the shifting tides, evoke a sense of primal, enduring strength. Consider the motif of the rock throughout history. In ancient Greece, rocks were not merely inert matter but symbols of stability, divinity, and even the raw material from which humanity was forged. Think of Deucalion and Pyrrha, who repopulated the earth by casting stones behind them, each becoming a person. Over time, the symbolic weight of rocks has shifted. In the Romantic era, they symbolized the sublime power of nature, a force both awe-inspiring and terrifying. Huet, a product of this era, infuses these rocks with a similar sense of the sublime, tapping into our collective memory of nature's overwhelming force. These "roches noires" are not simply geological formations. They are a touchstone, an enduring symbol that continues to resonate with our subconscious understanding of the world, constantly reappearing and transforming throughout time.