Sloot met bomen 1867 - 1890

Philip Zilcken created this etching, ‘Sloot met bomen’, which translates to ‘Ditch with Trees’, capturing a landscape imbued with symbolic weight. Notice the flock of birds taking flight. Birds, throughout history, have symbolized the soul's journey, freedom, and transition, often marking a passage between earthly and spiritual realms. Consider the ancient Egyptian belief in the Ba, a bird-like representation of the soul that could travel between worlds. Similarly, in many cultures, birds are seen as messengers from the gods, carrying prayers and omens. Observe how these motifs resonate even now, evoking feelings of hope, liberation, or even a melancholic longing for what lies beyond. The birds against the backdrop of the trees bordering the ditch invite us to ponder the cyclical nature of life, and the eternal dance between earth and sky.