De vrienden vertrekken van het huis van Haazel 1751 - 1799

Jacob Cats created this drawing called 'The Friends Depart from the House of Haazel' in the 18th century. The drawing depicts a lively departure scene, dominated by gestures of farewell. Note the raised arms and the waving figures. These gestures are visual echoes reverberating through time. Consider the "adlocutio" gesture found in Roman art, where an orator raises his hand to command attention. Here, the figures on the staircase adopt similar poses, though the meaning has shifted from command to a more emotional farewell. This motif, deeply embedded in our collective memory, surfaces and evolves, reflecting society’s changing values. The heightened emotion expressed through these gestures engages us subconsciously, forging a powerful connection between past and present. This drawing reminds us that images are not isolated; they are part of an endless, cyclical progression, constantly resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings.