Boerderij onder bomen 1650 - 1660

Pieter de Molijn's drawing, "Farmhouse under Trees," captures a seemingly simple scene with profound echoes. The large tree, centrally placed, acts as a symbol of life's enduring strength, drawing parallels to ancient tree worship, where trees represented the cosmos, connecting the earthly with the divine. The farmhouse nestled beneath the tree becomes a symbol of shelter and domesticity, echoing the fundamental human need for a safe haven. Note how this iconography is echoed in art across the ages, from classical pastoral scenes to Romantic landscapes, each bearing the imprint of shared human experiences and cultural memory. The traveller on the left, bent under his burden, may remind us of figures in classical art, such as depictions of Atlas carrying the world, and evoke a sense of weary persistence. This posture, laden with burden, resurfaces again and again in different contexts, from religious iconography to modern art, a testament to our collective subconscious recognition of life's struggles. The cyclical progression of these symbols continues; they reappear, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.