Paddenstoelen 1971

Peter Ilsted's "Mushrooms," a print residing in the Rijksmuseum, quietly presents us with more than meets the eye. These aren't merely fungi captured with delicate light and shadow; they are symbols deeply rooted in our collective consciousness. The mushroom, historically, carries a dual nature. It represents both life and death, sustenance and poison, reality and the supernatural. Think of ancient rituals where mushrooms were used to induce visions, connecting the earthly with the divine. This duality is not unique. It echoes in symbols like the serpent, shedding its skin to represent renewal, yet also embodying temptation and danger. These forms and symbols, embedded in art, act as powerful forces, engaging us on a subconscious level. This constant return and metamorphosis are central to understanding how images live and breathe through time.