(Itinerant pot mender) c. 1830 - 1833

Oishi Matora crafted this ink drawing titled, "(Itinerant pot mender)," sometime between 1793 and 1833. Observe the central figure, the pot mender, surrounded by a group of children. The act of mending, of repairing what is broken, carries a profound symbolism across cultures. This simple scene of repair echoes the ancient concept of "memoria," where memory is not just recollection, but a form of restoration. Think of the fragmented pieces of pottery as symbols of broken memories, which the mender skillfully pieces back together. Consider how the mender's work finds a parallel in the tale of Ariadne's thread, guiding Theseus through the labyrinth. Here too, the mender guides us through the labyrinth of time, reminding us that what is broken can be made whole again, that the past is always present, waiting to be pieced together. The scene resonates on a subconscious level, a quiet testament to the enduring human spirit.