Aan de zon 1895

Karel Petrus Cornelis de Bazel made this print titled 'Aan de zon' using an unknown medium. It is dated 1895. This image presents an opportunity to explore the cultural and social context of the Netherlands at the end of the 19th century. We see a figure with raised hands and a sun-like emblem, featuring the letters "SAT." The image evokes the symbolist movement, which permeated Dutch art at this time. It often engaged with spirituality and the occult as a form of social critique. De Bazel was an architect and designer involved in the development of Amsterdam’s new stock exchange building in these years. His involvement with the architectural journal “Wendingen” suggests that he had an ambivalent relationship with the Dutch art establishment. His personal interest in theosophy might therefore have informed his symbolic language. Historical sources, such as the artist’s published writings and the records of the theosophical society, can help us understand the specific meanings and motivations behind artworks like this one. What can they tell us about the values and beliefs that shaped their creation?