Voortrekkerspaar staand op een heuvel 1836 - 1913

Willem Steelink's drawing depicts a Voortrekker couple standing on a hill. The woman, with her hand raised, embodies the spirit of the Great Trek, a significant event in South African history marked by the migration of Dutch-speaking settlers. Her gesture evokes a sense of hope and determination towards the unknown future that strongly reflects the collective emotions tied to pioneering and discovery. The act of pointing towards the horizon, such as we see here, is an ancient and potent symbol. It’s a gesture that transcends mere direction, appearing in depictions of prophets and leaders throughout art history. It echoes through time in classical depictions of figures promising new beginnings. This symbolic gesture, deeply embedded in our cultural memory, speaks to the psychological depths of human ambition and the search for a promised land. In Steelink's depiction, the collective memory of migration and aspiration surfaces, engaging us on a deeply subconscious level. The woman's gesture is not merely directional but emotionally charged, signifying the Voortrekkers' profound psychological journey and their imprint on history. This motif resurfaces, evolving through different historical contexts, always carrying the weight of human longing and destiny.