Eenden c. 1856 - 1870

This delicate pencil drawing presents us with a series of studies of ducks in water, created by Maria Vos in the 19th century. Waterfowl, seemingly simple subjects, carry a rich symbolic weight through the ages. Consider the duck's relationship to water, an element often linked to purification and the subconscious. In ancient mythologies, birds are messengers between the earthly and divine realms, a role ducks echo as they navigate both worlds. We see depictions of waterfowl across cultures, from Egyptian hieroglyphs to Renaissance paintings. The act of diving—so vividly captured here—might evoke the human desire to explore hidden depths, plunging into the unknown in search of something nourishing. This primal connection resonates deep within our collective memory, an echo of ancient beliefs and a timeless dance between the visible and invisible.