Gezicht op een plein met fontein te Sevilla 1694 - 1737

Pieter van den Berge's etching depicts a square with a fountain in Seville. The fountain, crowned with a figure, becomes a powerful emblem of life, abundance, and purification. Consider how the motif of the fountain appears in the Garden of Eden—a wellspring of life—and then in the Renaissance, where fountains adorn city squares, symbolizing civic pride and access to life-giving resources. Each era imbues the symbol with new layers. The symbolism of water suggests not only physical sustenance but also psychological cleansing. It’s a cyclical, non-linear progression. From ancient ritual baths to modern baptismal fonts, water's capacity to purify and renew speaks to our subconscious desire for rebirth. This emotional and psychological resonance ensures that the symbol of the fountain continues to evolve, carrying collective memories into the future.