Twee vliegende meeuwen 1873 - 1917

Theo van Hoytema created this print of two flying seagulls with lithography. The seagulls, symbols of freedom and adaptation, take flight against a coarsely textured background. Consider the Minoan frescoes from Akrotiri, where birds in flight evoke the natural world's vitality. Here, Van Hoytema's gulls transcend mere representation; they embody the human longing for liberty. Across cultures, birds carry souls to the afterlife, as seen in ancient Egyptian art. The subconscious links flight with transcending earthly constraints. The stark contrast between the birds and the background evokes a sense of longing, a yearning for escape that resonates deeply. This image engages us on a primal level, stirring emotions linked to our own desires for freedom. These emotional experiences are then added to the collective memory and the symbol is reborn over and over again.