Gezicht op het Huis ter Mey in Kennemerland 1685 - 1735

Abraham Rademaker rendered this view of Huis ter Mey in Kennemerland with pen and brown ink, a scene where architecture meets the still waters surrounding it. The house, with its stoic façade and reflecting pool, presents us with a powerful symbol of insularity and protection. The island of Huis ter Mey evokes the medieval concept of the “hortus conclusus,” or enclosed garden, a sanctuary separated from the outside world. This motif transcends time and space, reappearing from ancient Roman villas, medieval allegories of the soul’s safe-keeping to the walled gardens of Renaissance paintings, each iteration reflecting a deep, subconscious desire for safety and introspection. Even today, the imagery of the isolated stronghold persists. The collective memory of needing refuge and safeguarding echoes in the architectural and artistic representations across different historical periods. It’s a cyclical progression: a symbol that resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in our ever-changing world.