De klok c. 1843 - 1920

Anton Muttenthaler created this print, titled "De Klok", sometime in the mid-19th century. It presents scenes of daily life, framed by the overarching theme of time, symbolized by the clock itself. Notice how each vignette captures different moments: waking up, praying, working, and resting. The angels hovering over sleeping children, a motif echoing classical Cupid and Psyche imagery, appear alongside religious iconography of the praying nun. This juxtaposition is a powerful invocation of the divine and the everyday. The presence of angels suggests a timeless connection between innocence, dreams, and the protection of higher powers. Consider how these images tap into our collective memory. Angels have appeared across millennia, evolving from winged deities in ancient cultures to celestial guardians in Christian art. Here, they bridge the gap between the mundane activities and the spiritual realm, reminding us of the cyclical nature of life and the ever-present influence of the past on our present. This work evokes a potent sense of nostalgia, connecting us to shared human experiences across time.