Het gevoel 1670 - 1724

This mezzotint by Jacob Gole, made in Amsterdam around the late 17th century, depicts a tender moment, charged with complex symbolism. The central figures are caught in a delicate embrace, yet an underlying tension permeates the scene. Note the owl perched atop the ladder, a symbol of wisdom but also of darkness and vigilance, traditionally associated with the night. Its presence casts a shadow of caution, suggesting that not all is as it seems. Consider also the rooster feathers on the man's hat, often associated with lust and male virility. These symbols serve as a reminder of the duality of human nature. Across time, the gesture of an embrace has appeared in countless iterations, from sacred Christian imagery to secular and even erotic contexts. What is most potent here is its ambiguity, the way it mirrors our deepest ambivalences about physical and emotional closeness. These symbols resonate on a primal level, invoking both desire and apprehension. These motifs are not linear, but cyclical, ever resurfacing and evolving, carrying echoes of past and present, engaging with viewers in profound and unexpected ways.