Twee gezichten op het dorp Hagestein 1774

Here we see Hendrik Spilman’s rendering of Hagestein, distilled into the timeless language of etching. Dominating both views, the church tower, topped with a cross, speaks of spiritual grounding. These towers remind me of the Tower of Babel, symbolizing a reaching towards the divine, a desire for connection, yet also a potential for disunity. The cross, of course, carries the weight of salvation, but also of suffering, its vertical and horizontal beams intersecting to form a nexus of meaning. Throughout history, these symbols have taken on different shades. Consider the obelisks of ancient Egypt, towering towards the sun god Ra, or the minarets of Islam, calling the faithful to prayer. Each shares this striving upward. This image engages us on a deep, subconscious level by tapping into these age-old aspirations and fears, desires and doubts. Indeed, the symbols in this work echo through time, resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings in each historical context.