Twee mannen wandelend op een bospad before 1894

Hendrik Herman van den Berg captured this photograph of two men on a woodland path. Note the walking sticks they carry, emblems of guidance and support that stretch back to Hermes' caduceus. Such staves were not merely practical; they symbolized authority and direction. Think of pilgrimage depictions, where the staff denotes purpose and spiritual resolve. Yet here, the context shifts. These aren't pilgrims or gods, but modern men in suits. The forest itself is a deep-rooted symbol; from ancient myths to fairy tales, it is a space of mystery, transformation, and challenge. Sigmund Freud could see the forest as a place of subconscious exploration, echoing the trials and initiations found in ancient rites. The men's journey, framed by these potent symbols, invokes our own search for meaning amidst life's forest of experiences. Their presence compels us to contemplate how we too navigate our paths, armed with our personal 'staves' of knowledge and experience.