Omhelzing c. 1858

This is "Omhelzing" or "Embrace", a pencil drawing by Bastiaan de Poorter. In it, two figures lock in a tender embrace, a motif resonant with cultural memory. The embrace has served as a profound symbol across eras, seen in ancient Egyptian art to medieval Christian iconography. In the ancient world, the embrace was often associated with ritualistic and religious expression. In contrast, medieval Christian art used it to depict spiritual unions. Consider, for example, the "Psychostasis," the weighing of souls, where the embrace symbolized divine mercy. The raised hands present in this drawing echo those of supplicants in ancient votive offerings, signaling a desire for connection with the divine. This gesture, laden with hope and supplication, resurfaces through history, carrying a universal yearning for solace. De Poorter's "Embrace" engages us on a deep, subconscious level, evoking primal emotions tied to protection and belonging. This symbol has appeared and reappeared, continuously shaped by our collective need for affection.