A Hut or Sheep Pen in the Woods 1646 - 1672

Adriaen van de Velde created this drawing of a humble sheep pen nestled in the woods using pen and brown ink, with a grey wash. The image evokes a sense of pastoral simplicity and quietude. Notice how the wheel is a prominent feature. The wheel, a universal symbol, represents cycles, time, and fortune. Think of the Wheel of Fortune in Tarot, but also of the Buddhist Dharma wheel representing the path to enlightenment. In Van de Velde’s depiction, the wheel is part of a common farm building, stripped of its more spiritual connotations. Yet, its presence resonates with a deeper understanding of life's rhythms. There's a certain nostalgia evoked by this scene, a longing for a simpler existence, deeply ingrained in our collective memory. The contrast between the natural, organic forms of the hut and the geometric rigidity of the wheel creates a visual tension, engaging us on a subconscious level. Thus, we see how symbols persist, evolving through cultural shifts and resurfacing in new contexts, carrying echoes of their past lives.