Hirte mit drei Rindern auf einer Flußbrücke 

Abraham van Strij painted “Herdsman with Three Cattle on a River Bridge” to celebrate rural life. The bridge is more than just a structure; it’s a symbolic link, a transition between different realms. The image of a bridge as a passage appears in many cultures, such as the Bifrost in Norse mythology, a bridge between Midgard and Asgard, the realm of the gods. It reflects our deep-seated desire to connect, explore, and understand the unknown. The cattle themselves, peacefully crossing, resonate with ancient notions of pastoral harmony and abundance, recalling the sacred cows of ancient Egypt, symbols of nourishment and fertility. These symbols are not static; their meanings evolve as they journey through time, shaped by our ever-changing collective consciousness. Yet, their recurrence speaks to the enduring power of archetypes, those primal images and patterns that dwell within our shared human psyche, evoking emotions and memories that transcend individual experience.