Gezicht op zuidkust van eiland Capri 1778

Louis Ducros captured this view of the south coast of Capri in watercolor. Here, the island looms large, a rugged sentinel amidst the vast expanse of the sea. Consider the recurring motif of the island, an archetype found across cultures. Think of Delos, the birthplace of Apollo, or the mythical Avalon. Islands often symbolize isolation, refuge, or a sacred space, set apart from the mundane world. They become repositories for dreams, fears, and the collective unconscious. This imagery is not linear; it echoes through time, transforming yet remaining recognizable. In Romantic paintings, islands evoke a sense of longing and the sublime. They stir deep-seated emotions, engaging viewers on a primal level, echoing the call of the unknown and the search for meaning. The island, an enduring symbol, resurfaces in our collective memory, shaped by history and perpetually renewed by the human psyche.