Optocht bij het Tweede Eeuwfeest van de Universiteit van Leiden, 1775 1775

Noach van der Meer the Younger created this etching in 1775, capturing the procession during the Second Centennial Celebration of Leiden University. Dominating the scene, a parade of figures marches in a circle, a shape pregnant with symbolic meaning across cultures. This circular motif, echoing ancient processional routes, harkens back to religious rituals and dances found in antiquity. Think of the cyclical dances of the Dervishes, or the processions around sacred sites, each turn embodying a return and renewal. Here, the circle seems to encapsulate the university's continuous pursuit of knowledge, a cycle of learning and discovery. The circle, psychologically, represents completeness, the self, and eternity. Its presence evokes a deep-seated human desire for continuity and order. The repetition of figures and the circular form create a mesmerizing effect, drawing the viewer into a collective experience, as if participating in the procession itself. This is not a linear march into the future but a cyclical return to foundational principles, re-enacted and reaffirmed with each passing generation.