Balspel (Bocce) spelend gezelschap voor een herberg 1730 - 1799

Angélique Moitte created this print, "Balspel (Bocce) spelend gezelschap voor een herberg," which translates to "Game of Bocce in front of an Inn," capturing a scene of leisure and community. Here, the round bocce balls are more than mere objects of play; they evoke the cyclical nature of life itself. We see them echoed across various epochs – from ancient Greek games to medieval courtly pastimes. The gesture of throwing, aiming, is itself primal, a pursuit of destiny mirrored in countless artistic expressions. Consider the Renaissance depictions of Fortuna, where the rolling wheel symbolizes unpredictable fate. This act of throwing, aiming, hoping, taps into a deep collective memory. It is a symbol of humanity's eternal quest to control chance, to shape our destinies. Just as the players gather, so too does this image gather centuries of human striving into one frame.