Tuin met obelisk 1715 - 1798

Dionys van Nijmegen rendered this garden scene with an obelisk using graphite on paper. The obelisk, a symbol rooted in ancient Egyptian sun worship, is quite prominent. These monolithic structures, with their pyramid-like tops, were dedicated to gods. Yet, observe how the obelisk appears here, not in the sun-drenched landscape of the Nile, but amidst the ordered greenery of a European garden. This transformation marks its journey through time, carrying echoes of its original sacred purpose while adapting to new cultural contexts. We find it echoed in triumphal arches and funerary monuments throughout the ages. The subconscious lure of the obelisk perhaps lies in its reaching for the heavens, mirroring our aspirations and anxieties. Its imposing presence resonates, reflecting a desire for permanence and perhaps even a longing for the divine. It is a reminder that symbols do not remain static; they evolve, adapt, and echo through the corridors of history, bearing witness to our collective cultural memory.