Boerenhuizen aan het water 1650 - 1651

Jan van Goyen sketched these 'Boerenhuizen aan het water' with pen in brown and gray over black pencil, capturing a humble waterside scene. The thatched roofs and the simple boats are potent symbols that carry us back through time. Consider how the roof, a basic shelter, also symbolizes protection and continuity across cultures. You see these motifs echoed in ancient Roman villas, medieval peasant homes, and even modern suburban houses, each reflecting humanity's fundamental need for safety. The vessel evokes similar deep-rooted ideas about journeys, both literal and metaphorical. From the Egyptian funerary boats carrying souls to the afterlife to the ships of explorers charting new worlds, boats represent our eternal quest for discovery and passage through life's uncertainties.