Kind met pauw 1892

This is a drawing called 'Kind met pauw', or 'Child with peacock', by Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst. Holst, born in 1868, situated himself in the Dutch Symbolist movement, a time when artists were deeply engaged with ideas about spirituality, dreams, and the inner self. In this ethereal sketch, Holst seems to be searching for something, tracing the contours of innocence and nature's beauty. The choice of a child and a peacock isn't accidental; both carry weighty symbolism. Children often represent purity, potential, and a connection to the divine, while peacocks are age-old symbols of pride, beauty, and immortality. The delicate lines suggest a world that is fragile and in formation. This piece invites us to consider the delicate balance between the human and natural worlds, and perhaps more intimately, the fleeting nature of childhood. Holst encourages us to look beyond the surface, inviting reflection on our own relationship to beauty, innocence, and the passage of time.