Tien ogen met daarin vierkanten weerspiegeld before 1896

Here we see Allvar Gullstrand's 'Ten Eyes with Squares Reflected', an early 20th-century piece which presents a series of eyes, each captured within a square frame. The eye has long been a potent symbol, a window to the soul, representing perception, knowledge, and even divine insight. The motif of the eye, of course, appears across epochs—consider the Eye of Providence, or the all-seeing eyes in ancient Egyptian art. Here, the eyes are confined, mirrored in squares. This containment creates a tension, contrasting the eye's natural association with freedom of vision. This can be seen as an evolution of the symbol, influenced perhaps by modern anxieties of surveillance and the subconscious fear of being watched. These eyes stare, engage, and perhaps even accuse. This challenges the viewer and evokes a deep emotional response, a primal awareness of being seen, stirring collective memories and anxieties linked to visibility. Thus, the symbol of the eye, so ancient and pervasive, resurfaces here, transformed, reflecting modern sensibilities while echoing age-old themes of observation and inner vision.