Verticale plaat met een rond gat 1836 - 1912

This is a print of a vertical plate with a round hole by Isaac Weissenbruch. At first glance, one might pass over this unassuming image. But let us consider the symbolism embedded in it: the plate, a symbol of rigid structure, is disrupted by a void, an empty circle that beckons the gaze. Across cultures, the circle represents wholeness, unity, and the infinite. Yet, in its emptiness, it becomes a window into the unknown, stirring a sense of existential curiosity. Think of the mandalas in Eastern traditions, or the oculus in ancient Roman architecture. Here, the circle invites contemplation, a reminder of the cyclical nature of life. Consider how these symbols tap into our collective memory. The void is a reminder of our subconscious, the hidden wellspring of primal feelings. Just as the art of the past resurfaces in new forms, so too does the human experience. It echoes through time.