Pelgrim 1831 - 1888

Arnoud Schaepkens created this etching titled 'Pelgrim'. It depicts a bearded man in what appears to be a state of transience. With a walking stick over his shoulder and wearing a simple cloak, he stands before a doorway framed by nature. This doorway, a threshold, is an invitation into the unknown. Schaepkens lived through a time of significant social change in Europe. The role of religion, the growth of industrialization, and philosophical shifts towards individualism and existentialism were widely debated. In response, artists would often portray figures in contemplation and searching for meaning in life. This small etching invites reflection on our own journeys. Are we not all, in some way, pilgrims searching for meaning and belonging? It evokes an emotional connection to the human experience of seeking purpose, something that transcends time and connects us to the past.