Arcadisch landschap 1685 - 1735

This Arcadian Landscape was rendered by Abraham Rademaker in pen, brush and watercolor. The landscape presents ruins inhabited by classical figures that reflect the enduring human desire for an idyllic past. Note the presence of the sphinx, a symbol originating from ancient Egypt and adopted by the Greeks, typically guarding temples and tombs. This mythological creature is seen in Renaissance art as an emblem of wisdom. Its enduring presence in art, from the ancient world to Rademaker’s time, reflects a collective memory of the desire to protect sacred knowledge and confront the unknown. The architecture, with its crumbling grandeur, evokes a melancholic sense of time's passage, tapping into our subconscious awareness of mortality. Consider how the image of the sphinx is constantly being rediscovered, reinterpreted and revived. This highlights the power of visual symbols to transcend time.