Studie 1848 - 1888

Here is a charcoal drawing by Anton Mauve, now at the Rijksmuseum. Dominating the scene is a stark post, a silent sentinel under an expansive sky. Its austere presence recalls the ancient Roman steles, markers of both territory and memory. The pole is an ancient symbol of the axis mundi, the world's center, bridging the earthly and divine realms. Think of the maypoles of pagan rituals, or the totems of indigenous cultures; the pole connects humanity to something greater. Even in its stripped-down form, we see how it echoes through time, carrying ancestral meanings. Its psychological impact is profound, anchoring our gaze and provoking a primal sense of place and orientation. And so the cycle turns, as this image, stripped of overt religious context, still taps into humanity's deep-seated need for connection and orientation. We see how symbols evolve, yet their root meanings resonate across cultures and epochs.