Portret van een man, zittend aan een tafel 1857 - 1898

Pieter Siewers captured this man, seated at his desk, in a photograph. The pen he holds is not merely an object; it is a symbol, resonating through centuries as an emblem of intellect, power, and creation. Consider the ancient scribes of Egypt, their reed pens poised to record the decrees of pharaohs, or the medieval monks illuminating sacred texts with meticulous care. The pen embodies the act of transforming thought into tangible form. Now, observe how this motif reappears in various guises throughout history, from the quill pens of Enlightenment philosophers to the fountain pens of modern novelists. Each iteration carries echoes of its predecessors, accumulating layers of meaning and association. The act of writing itself can be viewed as a ritual, a performance that engages both conscious and unconscious forces. The pen becomes a conduit for channeling emotions and ideas from the depths of the psyche.