Staande man met hoed en bepakking 1882 - 1885

This sketch of a standing man with a hat and luggage was made by George Hendrik Breitner. Observe the figure's hat—a seemingly simple accessory, yet it speaks volumes. The hat echoes the ancient petasos of Hermes, the messenger god, a symbol of travel and transition. Now, consider the man’s burden; a bag slung over his shoulder. This motif of the traveler with his load is as old as civilization itself. In medieval art, we see pilgrims bearing their satchels, emblems of their spiritual quests. Similarly, the wandering Jew is condemned to walk the Earth with all his belongings. The archetype resurfaces through time, laden with the weight of history, a perpetual wanderer. This image touches us so profoundly because it resonates with our collective memory of journeys, both physical and spiritual. We are all, in a sense, travelers carrying our own burdens through life.