Figuren op weg naar boerderij 1870

Johannes Tavenraat rendered this drawing, "Figures on the way to a farm," with pen in the 19th century. At first glance, we see what seems to be a serene Dutch countryside scene. However, the image vibrates with underlying cultural symbols—the rural landscape, the family, the steeple, the thatched roof. The steeple, reaching skyward, is not merely an architectural detail. It is an echo of ancient obelisks, symbols of stability and connection to the divine, stretching back to ancient Egypt. Even here, in the land of the Dutch, the steeple carries a weight, suggesting a deep-seated need for order and the aspiration towards higher truths. The thatched roof, a seemingly simple shelter, harks back to a primal connection with nature and a slower pace of life. Consider how these symbols have evolved. The steeple, once a beacon of spiritual guidance, now shares the skyline with factories—a testament to our changing faith. Yet, within us, the echo of that need for stability remains. We see it in our yearning for tradition, a desire to maintain a connection to the past.