Curatorial notes
Here we see an etching by Henri Rul, titled 'Schuur aan het water' or 'Barn on the Water'. Note how the modest flag atop the barn becomes a potent symbol. Flags have long served as emblems of identity, allegiance, and authority. From ancient Roman vexilla to medieval banners, flags unite people under a common banner, but also mark territories. Think of the waving flags in Delacroix's 'Liberty Leading the People' or the Nazi banners at the Nuremberg rallies; both examples carry connotations of power. In Rul's 'Barn on the Water', the flag, though simple, suggests possession. Its presence evokes the emotional connection to land and property. This humble flag becomes a reminder of the universal human desire to claim and define space, connecting us across centuries and cultures.