Manuscript uit archief Philip Zilcken 1867 - 1930

This manuscript was made by Philip Zilcken, and it is held at the Rijksmuseum. The text speaks of light – “Lumière Diamantine” – shining into a room where, the author tells us, the philosopher Spinoza lived. Light, as a symbol, has been used throughout history to represent knowledge, divinity, and truth. Think of the philosophers of the Enlightenment, figures like Spinoza, who sought to illuminate the world with reason. But, the light here is described as diamond-like; we think of the diamond as a symbol of the eternal. In medieval times, it was believed to possess mystical powers, capable of reflecting divine light. This image, seemingly of a simple room, evokes something ancient, something buried deep within our collective memory. It reminds us of a yearning for knowledge and truth that has persisted through generations. The symbolic association of light is a potent, psychological force that engages us on a profound level, reminding us of our connection to the past. This emblem, in a cyclical progression, reappears, changing and acquiring new meanings in different times.