Vervallen boerderij aan het water 1778 - 1838

Anthonie van den Bos created this etching of a dilapidated farmhouse on water in the late 18th or early 19th century. The thatched roof, a prominent feature, evokes ancient, rural dwellings, connecting us to a lineage of human shelter and the agricultural roots of society. Consider the image of a humble abode, almost collapsing back into the earth. We see this motif echo through art history—from the simple huts of biblical scenes to the hermitages of Renaissance paintings. This iconography symbolizes a return to nature and a rejection of worldly excess. The ruined state speaks to time's relentless march, reminiscent of classical memento mori symbols. But here, amidst decay, life persists. This intertwining of ruin and resilience touches something deep within us, triggering a collective memory of human fragility and our enduring spirit, reminding us that even in destruction, new beginnings can emerge.