Winter 1661 - 1693

This drawing, "Winter," made by Gerrit Grasdorp, presents us with a figure embodying the season itself. Note the long staff and the woven basket, symbols deeply rooted in the peasant life of the time. The staff, a simple tool, echoes across centuries, resembling the scepters of ancient shepherds, their simple tools transformed into symbols of authority. Think of Moses, whose staff parted the Red Sea! Here, the peasant's staff is an emblem of survival, a tool, but also a connection to the earth's rhythms and the cyclical nature of existence. Now, consider the woven basket, a humble container. It evokes images of the cornucopia, the horn of plenty from classical mythology. The basket suggests a hope for future harvests, a promise that even in the harshest winter, life persists. It is a potent image, tapping into our collective memory, reminding us of the constant struggle between scarcity and abundance. We are subconsciously reminded of the hard labour required to overcome barrenness. The symbol of ‘Winter’ in art progresses non-linearly, constantly resurfacing and adapting within different cultural and historical contexts.