A Blind Man (The Wayfarers) 1863

Frederick Walker’s etching, A Blind Man, captures a poignant scene, dominated by the archetypal figure of the blind wanderer, guided by a boy. The staff, an ancient symbol of support and pilgrimage, becomes an extension of the blind man's senses, probing the unknown. This motif echoes through history, from Homer's blind bard, Demodocus, to numerous depictions of Saint Lucia, often portrayed holding her eyes on a platter, her blindness paradoxically granting her inner vision. The guiding child, in turn, recalls the myth of Orion, whose sight was restored when he traveled east, carrying Cedalion on his shoulders to act as his eyes. Such imagery taps into our collective memory, a primal fear of helplessness and a deep-seated longing for guidance. Walker masterfully plays on these subconscious fears, the pair’s emotional gravity engaging viewers on a deeply psychological level. The symbol of the blind man and his guide is a powerful metaphor for our own human condition.