Schets voor illustratie in Hoe de vogels aan een koning kwamen 1891

Theo van Hoytema created this sketch on paper for an illustration of 'How the Birds Got a King'. Here, we see birds in flight, their forms rendered with simple lines, embodying freedom and aspiration. This image echoes ancient symbols of the soul's journey, like birds depicted in Egyptian hieroglyphs representing the human soul taking flight after death. The flock evokes movement and transformation, reflecting humanity’s age-old fascination with avian life. Consider the dove, often a symbol of peace, or the raven, linked to wisdom and prophecy. These associations reveal how deeply birds are embedded in our cultural memory. Such collective symbolism resonates even today, tapping into subconscious emotional layers that go beyond mere representation. This primal connection to the natural world evokes feelings of longing and freedom that resonate with our deepest selves. Thus, the birds in Hoytema’s sketch are not merely figures; they are carriers of historical memory, continuously evolving and resurfacing in our collective consciousness.