Bezorgen van post after 1666

Joost van Geel etched this image, "Delivering Mail," sometime in the 17th century. Notice how the tower dominates the scene, a stoic vertical amidst the horizontal sprawl of land and sea. Towers, throughout history, have been potent symbols – think of the Tower of Babel, or medieval city keeps. They speak of aspiration, but also of isolation. Now, consider how Van Geel juxtaposes this symbol of steadfastness with the image of swift communication. A man hurries, bearing correspondence, while a boat waits. The act of delivering messages transcends time, reappearing in ancient Roman reliefs and Renaissance paintings, each time reflecting society's yearning for connection. Here, the tower might represent the established order, while the messenger embodies change. The image touches something primal, a tension between stability and progress. The non-linear, cyclical progression of this motif resurfaces throughout history, evolving and taking on new meanings in different contexts.