Twee mannen die hockey spelen bij een brug c. 1630

Bartholomeus van Lochom etched this small plate depicting two men playing hockey near a bridge. Here, we see the recurring motif of play, a fundamental human activity. Consider the simple hockey stick, a tool for sport, yet a direct descendant of more primal instruments of survival. This image reminds us of the enduring human impulse to transform the necessities of life into sources of joy. From the ancient ball games of Mesoamerica to modern football, the act of play serves as a release, a momentary escape from the constraints of existence. We see a connection between early rituals and today's leisure activities, where competition and physical expression provide a cathartic outlet for subconscious desires.