Spelen en bezigheden 1822 - 1849

This collection of images, "Spelen en bezigheden," crafted by I.I. de Lanier, presents a tableau of daily life and leisurely pursuits, captured in a series of vignettes. Swans gliding on water, children playing, men carrying goods, and other simple pleasures are displayed. Notice the swan, an ancient symbol of purity and grace, but also of solitude. The swan appears in Leda and the Swan, a recurring motif symbolizing transformation and divine intervention. Its presence in Lanier's work may evoke a collective memory of mythological tales, subconsciously connecting everyday scenes with deeper, primal narratives of nature and the human experience. These archetypal images resonate across time, embodying our hopes, fears, and shared human experiences in a non-linear fashion. They have resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts.