Fotoreproductie van (vermoedelijk) een prent van een moeder die met haar kind een kaartenhuis bouwt c. 1850 - 1870

This image depicts a mother and child constructing a house of cards. The motif of building, especially with fragile materials, carries a deep resonance across cultures. It represents not only creation and potential but also the precarious nature of human endeavors. Consider how this simple game mirrors grander architectural feats, echoing the Tower of Babel, a symbol of ambition and its inevitable collapse. Similarly, the house of cards connects to the 'memento mori' tradition, a reminder of life's transient beauty, much like a flower in a vase—vibrant yet destined to wither. The act of building, therefore, becomes a potent symbol of our Sisyphean efforts, forever caught between creation and destruction. This intimate scene evokes a powerful, subconscious understanding of life's fleeting moments.