Het orgel before 1952

Johan van Hell created this image of an organ with graphite, pen and brush and India ink. Notice the image of labor and the organ itself. The organ, a symbol of joy, festivity, and community gathering, finds itself transported, pushed, and moved in the clutches of work. Yet, we may ask, who controls it? The man who pushes it or the one who guides its path? The organ resembles a theater: but what tragedy, what comedy, what farce will they be staging today? This image echoes ancient Roman processions of the Emperor, where every facet of life was a procession, a staged scene where everyone had a role, a script. Here, the organ, a vessel of melodies, is more than just an instrument; it’s a carrier of culture, pushed through the streets to bring art to the masses. The scene reminds us that even our deepest artistic expressions are rooted in labor and human interaction. Think of the Sisyphus archetype, condemned to endlessly push a boulder uphill, only to have it roll back down. Van Hell encapsulates this eternal struggle in his image, a poignant commentary on life's repetitions and our relentless pursuit of meaning.