Twee olifanten 1594

Nicolaes de Bruyn etched these 'Two Elephants' in 1594, capturing the creature’s symbolic weight. Rooted deep in time, the elephant embodies wisdom, memory, and strength. Notice how the elephants are placed within a forest, resembling a sacred grove, a place where one goes to connect with memory. The elephant has long been seen across cultures, from ancient Rome where they symbolized power and imperial dignity, to India, where Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, represents intellect and obstacle removal. Consider the animal’s wrinkled skin, like the rings of a tree, each line telling a story, a testament to time’s passage. It echoes the cyclical nature of history, how symbols resurface, and are reinterpreted. The motif of the elephant, laden with layers of meaning, invites us to reflect on our collective past and the enduring power of images. It connects to something deep within our psyche, something felt.