Gezicht op een boerderij met hooischuur 18th century

This ink drawing by Johan Johansz. Balen depicts a farm with a haystack. The haystack here, a common motif, transcends its agrarian function, resonating with a deeper sense of cultural memory. The haystack is reminiscent of the "sheaf of life," an ancient symbol representing abundance and renewal. Consider its presence in Egyptian harvest festivals, where sheaves were carried in processions, embodying hopes for future bounty. This motif surfaces again in the Classical era, linked to Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, her symbol promising fertility and sustenance. Over time, this symbol evolved, its presence felt even in van Gogh's landscapes, where haystacks evoke a longing for a pastoral ideal. This symbol, rooted in our collective consciousness, engages us on a profound level, tapping into our primordial connection to the earth. This recurring motif in art history speaks to the cyclical progression of human experience.