Roeiboten en eenden 1862 - 1864

This sketch of rowing boats and ducks was made by Johannes Tavenraat at an undetermined date. Note the duck, an archetype of the natural world, rendered here with simple lines. Since antiquity, the duck has symbolized various attributes: adaptability, resourcefulness, and the cyclical nature of life, deeply rooted in ancient creation myths, where waterfowl often bring forth the world from primordial waters. Consider the Egyptian depiction of ducks, or the waterfowl motifs in Asian art, symbolizing marital fidelity and happiness. The duck appears in various cultural contexts, embodying different yet interconnected meanings. The image resonates with a sense of simplicity. Like symbols, the duck resurfaces, carrying echoes of past meanings into the present, reminding us of the ancient connection between humanity and the natural world, continually evolving and adapting across cultures and time.