Basreliëf op het pendopo voetstuk aan de noordzijde van Candi Panataran. Possibly 1867

Isidore Kinsbergen captured this bas-relief on the pendopo pedestal of Candi Panataran in a photograph. The stone carving depicts a continuous narrative, filled with human figures engaged in various activities. Note the recurring motif of figures beneath trees, symbols of life, growth, and connection to the earth. This recalls similar depictions of the ‘Tree of Life’ found in ancient Mesopotamian art. Also note the scene with a figure riding an animal; this harkens back to ancient forms of leadership, of man’s dominion over the natural world. This image evolves as it reappears in different times and places; it shifts in meaning and emotional undertones, reflecting the collective memory and cultural expressions of the civilization from which it originates. Consider how this bas-relief evokes a sense of cyclical time, where stories and symbols resurface in new forms, constantly evolving. The power of visual language lies in its ability to engage us on a subconscious level, connecting us to the deep currents of human history.