Hooistapel en een schuur met een duiventil buiten Zwolle c. 1631 - 1633

Gerard ter Borch the Younger created this drawing of a hay stack and barn with a dovecote outside Zwolle. Here, the humble dovecote, perched atop the roof of the barn, hints at more than just a structure for birds. Doves, throughout history, have been potent symbols. From the ancient Near East, where they represented the goddess of love, Ishtar, to their Christian adoption as emblems of peace and the Holy Spirit, doves carry a rich, layered symbolism. Even today, the dove remains a powerful emblem of peace, its image evoked in times of conflict and reconciliation. Ter Borch's inclusion of this seemingly simple structure connects us to a deep well of cultural memory, where the dove's significance transcends mere ornithology. It reminds us of humanity's enduring quest for harmony.