Twee kustgezichten 1880

This pencil sketch by Louis Apol captures two coastal scenes, their stark simplicity echoing deeper, more primal human experiences. Note how the towering cliff face on the left, rendered with rough, vertical strokes, resembles ancient ziggurats, symbols of humanity’s striving toward the heavens found in Mesopotamian art. Now, consider the lighthouse, a beacon against the vast, indifferent sea. This symbol has evolved through time, from the Colossus of Rhodes, a warning and welcome to sailors, to modern lighthouses equipped with Fresnel lenses. Yet, the core symbolic meaning persists: guidance, safety, and hope amidst existential threat. Apol taps into our collective memory, evoking both the awe-inspiring power of nature and the enduring human quest for orientation. These coastal views, rendered with such spare means, leave a lasting impact.