Rustende reiziger met zijn hond in een landschap 1789 - 1793

Hendrik Meijer rendered this drawing of a resting traveler and his dog sometime in the late 18th century. The pair take refuge under the boughs of a tree, a motif echoing through the ages. Consider the ancient Greek concept of the sacred grove, a place of refuge, divine presence, and contemplation. Our weary traveler unknowingly participates in this tradition, seeking solace in nature's embrace, his loyal dog mirroring this need for rest and connection. The image carries a sense of timelessness, tapping into our collective memory of seeking shelter and peace. This symbol, seen across art history, from biblical stories of the Exodus to modern depictions of wanderers, reminds us of the human need for sanctuary. The tree, in particular, has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts, and yet it continues to offer shade, a place of respite and introspection.