De reus 1828 - 1937

This panel print titled 'De Reus' presents a sequence of scenes featuring a giant and children. The recurring motif of flight and falling here, particularly with the giant donning wings, brings to mind the myth of Icarus, whose hubris led to his downfall when he flew too close to the sun. Observe how the wings, initially a symbol of freedom and transcendence, become instruments of the giant’s ruin as he plummets from the sky. This symbol of the winged figure appears across cultures, from ancient Greek mythology to Christian iconography, often representing spiritual aspiration or divine intervention. Yet, here, the wings signify a dangerous overreach, a fall from grace. This transformation of the winged figure reflects a deep-seated human ambivalence towards ambition and the consequences of defying natural or moral boundaries. The image resonates with our collective anxieties about power, control, and the inevitable repercussions of overstepping. The cyclical progression of flight and fall reminds us of the recurring human drama of aspiration, failure, and the eternal quest for balance.