Sisyphus draagt een rotsblok de heuvel op before 1890

Jan Mesker created this representation of Sisyphus, from an unknown date, using etching. The artist's choice of Sisyphus as a subject is telling. Sisyphus, in Greek mythology, was condemned to endlessly roll a boulder up a hill, only to have it roll back down each time. It's a metaphor for the human condition, marked by repetitive, meaningless labor. Mesker situates Sisyphus not as a hero or a tragic figure, but as an embodiment of futile struggle. He presents us with a timeless reflection on the nature of work, the burden of existence, and the search for meaning in a world often devoid of it. This depiction transcends its mythological origins, inviting us to contemplate the Sisyphean tasks we all face in our own lives.