Varkensstal bij boerderij 1870 - 1931

Willem Bastiaan Tholen made this print of a pigsty at a farm, using etching techniques. The thatched roof is a dominant symbol, resonating deeply within agrarian societies. The thatched roof evokes the primal human need for shelter. This motif reappears across centuries, from ancient Roman villas to medieval peasant dwellings, representing both protection and a connection to the earth. We find the humble roof in illuminated manuscripts and Renaissance landscapes alike, each time imbued with a sense of rootedness and simplicity. The way that collective memory shapes our subconscious response to this motif is something to behold! Consider how this simple structure is loaded with connotations of family, security, and sustenance. The emotional power lies in the viewer’s own inherited memories and experiences, engaging us on a very deep, subconscious level. The thatched roof has been cyclical throughout history, evolving and adapting, to constantly find new meanings.