Toorn 1842 - 1887

Christiaan Lodewijk van Kesteren created this print titled ‘Toorn’. Here, we see a figure, armed and ready, emerging from what looks like a doorway. Above the figure are two shields depicting a bear and a lion, potent symbols of strength and courage. Our figure brandishes a sword, a symbol of power and justice, but its meaning is complex. The sword has appeared throughout history, from ancient times to modern warfare, a constant companion in humanity's narrative. The figure’s gaze is intense, the brow furrowed, the mouth set in a grim line. The intent is clear, the figure is gripped by ‘Toorn’: wrath, anger, a violent emotional state, powerful enough to propel us into action. Think of the countless images of mythical heroes and gods, warriors and revolutionaries, depicted with similar expressions. Through this, we recognise the cyclical progression of our inner demons: as mankind evolves, the sword gets sharper, and wrath, in turn, remains the fire that ignites action, a constant force in the human psyche.