Ada van Lierop voor het woonhuis van de plantage Accaribo 1913 - 1930

This glass slide, made by Theodoor Brouwers, shows Ada van Lierop in front of a plantation house. Here, the gate is a potent symbol. It marks not just a boundary, but a transition between spaces. Think of the gates of paradise, often depicted in art—entryways to something sacred, or at least, separate. This gate, however, stands before a plantation house. Consider how gates appear in ancient Egyptian art, guarding tombs, or the gates of medieval cities, defining who is in and who is out. Over time, the gate has morphed from a sacred threshold to a symbol of control and separation. This act of division, of marking territory, resonates deeply within the collective unconscious. The presence of the plantation house as a backdrop evokes intense emotional responses, a stark reminder of power dynamics. The gate doesn't just invite; it also excludes. The image resurfaces throughout history, each time bearing new layers of meaning, inextricably linked to its past.