Landschap met pad tussen bomen in octagonaal kader 1582 - 1700

This landscape with a path between trees was captured by an anonymous artist through engraving. Notice how nature is framed within an octagonal border, a geometric shape which highlights humanity’s attempt to impose order upon the natural world. But it is the soaring bird that catches my eye; a symbol deeply embedded in the human psyche. Across cultures and epochs, birds embody freedom, the soul’s journey, and divine messages. Consider the ancient Egyptians, who saw birds as messengers between the earthly and spiritual realms, or the Greeks, who associated them with omens and prophecies. This motif transcends geographical boundaries, recurring in diverse forms from the dove of peace in Christian iconography to the soaring eagles representing imperial power. It speaks to an enduring human fascination with flight. The bird here evokes a sense of aspiration, a yearning to transcend earthly bounds. It reminds us of the cyclical nature of symbols, constantly reinvented yet forever tethered to our collective memory.