Montferberg 1770 - 1778

This pencil and ink drawing of Montferberg was made by Jan Brandes in the late 18th century. We see a solitary hill crowned with trees, a modest building, and a winding path. The hill itself, a ‘mons fortis,’ or strong mountain, evokes ancient symbols of strength and refuge, found throughout time. Think of the sacred mountains of antiquity, such as Mount Olympus, or even the ziggurats of Mesopotamia. These elevated spaces served as meeting points between the earthly and divine realms. Notice the windmill to the left. The windmill, a symbol of human ingenuity harnessing nature, stands in stark contrast to the natural hill. These symbols represent our collective, subconscious desire for connection, transcendence, and understanding of our place in the cosmos. These motifs, like potent dreams, echo through centuries, revealing the enduring power of human imagination and the cyclical nature of cultural memory.