Man with Cradle c. 1770 - 1823

This small engraving, titled *Man with Cradle*, comes to us from an anonymous hand. The image depicts a man carrying a cradle on his back and holding a pitcher. This humble character offers a glimpse into historical gender roles and labor. The man's weary posture and simple garb suggest a life of toil, challenging conventional representations of masculinity. We might ask ourselves, what circumstances led to this division of labor? What does it tell us about societal expectations? Notice the presence of the caduceus symbol at the bottom right. While commonly associated with medicine today, in earlier times, it was linked to commerce and negotiation, a potential allusion to the man's trade or status. This is a poignant reflection on the intersection of labor, masculinity, and societal expectation.