Twee dwergen voor de maand maart, 1720 1718 - 1720

This print, "Two Dwarfs for the Month of March," was made in 1720 by Joost van Sassen. Observe the contrast: one dwarf is stout, in striped cloth, while the other is slight, carrying bare branches. These figures, though comical, evoke deep-seated seasonal symbolism. Dwarfs in art can represent base instincts or the earthbound, but here, coupled with the burgeoning branches, we witness a more complex interplay. Consider the ancient Green Man, a motif found in cultures across the globe: foliage as a symbol of rebirth. Our branch-bearing dwarf, then, becomes a harbinger of spring, love, and renewal—a counterpoint to his companion, who may represent the harshness of winter. The pairing plays on archetypal themes. The dichotomy of harshness and renewal, so vital to the human experience of seasonal change, becomes a cycle, constantly echoed and reinterpreted across time and culture.