The painting is inspired by the moment dreams come to fruition, when you can reap in joy, after the long road of persistence.
During the painting process Robert has also been inspired by the music of Fauré, Après un Rêve and by Vivaldi recomposed by Max Richter, The Four Seasons: Spring 1 - 2012.
The work is part of the series 'The Alchemy of Dreams'. The series is inspired by the dreams in life, daring to live your legend, Alchemy, ‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho, making air castles come true, about persistence, grit, faith, the soul of the world, the birth of dreams, Dutch skies and dunes.
The Dutch skies are used as a metaphor for the dreams. Dreams we would like to achieve in life exist is our mind, airy and light with no weight, like a cloud, but when we envision them and live them they feel and look real, like the clouds seem to have this vast volume. But only if they succeed on earth, when they are born on earth, they become reality in our lives.
Van de Graaf believes all the dreams in the lives of people, either small or big of nature, will contribute in creating a better and more inspiring world.