Spreekwoorden 1850 - 1881

This print, made by Dirk Noothoven van Goor, presents a series of proverbs visually. Consider the image of the man caught in a storm. The storm, a potent symbol across cultures, often represents chaos, upheaval, or divine wrath. We see echoes of this motif in ancient flood myths, like that of Noah, where the deluge served as divine retribution. The emotional weight of such images lies in their ability to evoke primal fears of destruction, loss, and helplessness. It stirs our collective memory of times of crisis. Yet, the storm is not merely destructive. It is transformative. Just as alchemists sought purification through fire, cultures worldwide have seen storms as agents of change. The psychological impact is profound, tapping into our subconscious understanding of cycles of death and rebirth. This circular progression reminds us that symbols continually resurface, evolving and adapting as they traverse history.