Gezicht op een landhuis 1725 - 1768

Johann Andreas Pfeffel's landscape, rendered with delicate lines, captures an idyllic vision of a country house, complete with a tranquil river and lush foliage. Dominating the scene is the house itself, a symbol deeply rooted in notions of stability, family, and the comforts of home. The house as a symbol transcends mere architecture. One might see echoes of this motif in earlier Roman villas or even further back, in sacred groves and temples, each evoking a sense of sanctuary and connection to the earth. Consider how, even in our modern urban landscapes, the yearning for a personal haven persists. The architecture in this drawing is quite typical, but it provides the same comfort of the 'home', much like Goethe's Roman house, evoking a universal feeling of longing. This longing is primal, a shared human desire for rootedness and belonging. Through this landscape, we perceive not just a physical space, but a projection of our deepest psychological needs. In our collective memory, it resurfaces time and again, each time subtly transformed, yet forever tethered to its origin.