Aarde, spiraal en fles 1706

Sébastien Leclerc I created this drawing, "Earth, Spiral, and Bottle," now at the Rijksmuseum, using pen and grey ink, depicting the Earth, a spiral, and a bottle. The spiral, a dominant motif here, is no mere geometric form; it’s a symbol laden with ancient meaning. Think back to the Neolithic spirals carved into stones, expressions of the cosmos and the journey of the soul. Here, this pattern suggests cycles of time and the very breath of life. The spiral, snaking back through history, echoes in art across millennia. The Fibonacci sequence in nature, the swirling galaxies—all resonate with this form. This shape has the psychological effect of drawing the eye inward, inviting contemplation, mirroring how subconscious thoughts swirl and deepen within the mind. Notice how this symbol resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings, reminding us of how the past lives in the present.