Het metalen kruis 1832 - 1850

This is a print for a game entitled "Het metalen kruis" (The metal cross), made by T.J. Wijnhoven Hendriksen. The prominent symbol is the cross, represented here as the 'metal cross', a Maltese cross-like decoration framing the letter 'W' crowned with a laurel wreath. The cross is one of the oldest and most widespread symbols, crossing through cultures since long before Christianity. Here, within the context of this board game, it appears to evoke notions of order, strategy, and perhaps even destiny. The dice scattered along the labyrinthian path around the cross remind us of 'alea', the Roman concept of games of chance. It is worth remembering how this intersects with 'fatum', fate, and the unpredictability of life. Like a game, our lives are subject to chance, but also to the rules and strategies we decide to employ. Perhaps this print is a reminder that despite the chaos, there's an underlying structure guiding us.