Winter-vermakelijkheden 1833 - 1900

Hermanus van Lubeek created this print titled "Winter-vermakelijkheden," which translates to "Winter Amusements," using etching and watercolor. It depicts scenes of winter leisure. Notice the horse-drawn carriages, symbols of status and festivity, which recur throughout art history, from triumphal processions in Roman reliefs to royal entries in Renaissance tapestries. These motifs reflect a collective yearning for celebration and escape, deeply embedded in our cultural memory. Consider the horse, a symbol of power and vitality since antiquity. Here, it pulls the carriage, yet its symbolic resonance extends far beyond mere transportation. Horses appear in ancient myths and legends, embodying primal instincts. The image taps into a subconscious desire for freedom, a reminder of our intrinsic connection with nature. The cycle of human experience, marked by seasonal changes, reveals how primal symbols resurface, adapting to new cultural contexts while retaining their emotional power.