Behangselvak met omlijsting en lambrisering, uit een ontwerp voor een zijwand 1791

Jurriaan Andriessen rendered this design for a wall hanging with graphite around the 18th century. It is suffused with imagery speaking to a longing for Arcadia. Note the prominent tree, standing as a silent observer over the scene. The tree, a universal symbol of life and knowledge, here offers shade to grazing cattle and reclining figures. Consider the ancient Greek concept of the "locus amoenus," an idealised natural setting often featuring trees, water, and pleasant shade, designed to evoke feelings of peace and tranquility. We find a parallel in the water, symbolising purity and the subconscious. These motifs appear in countless iterations across time, from classical Roman frescoes to Renaissance paintings, each reflecting a deep-seated human desire to return to an untainted, harmonious state of being. Observe how these recurring images create a powerful, cyclical connection through cultural memory, eliciting a sense of nostalgia and longing that transcends time.