Drie reizigers halen water bij een ruïne 1699 - 1740

Franz de Paula Ferg created this small etching, "Three Travelers Drawing Water at a Ruin," sometime before 1740. The iconography of water, especially drawn from a ruined structure, speaks volumes. The fountain, topped with what appears to be a pagan temple remnant, presents water as a source of life, both physical and spiritual. In antiquity, water nymphs were believed to have been the guardians of springs and wells. We see this motif echoed across centuries; consider the Renaissance depictions of nymphs guarding springs, or even ancient Roman bathhouses, all emphasizing water's life-giving properties. The ruin itself symbolizes the transience of human achievement, a memento mori contrasting with the eternal renewal of water. This is the cyclical, non-linear progression of a symbol, resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings in different historical contexts. This juxtaposition engages viewers on a subconscious level, stirring a deep emotional state of contemplation.