Wijnperserij 1827 - 1878

Charles François Daubigny made this pencil drawing titled "Wijnperserij". The act of pressing grapes is rich with cultural and historical significance. Observe how the laborers exert effort on the wooden press. The wine, or rather its extraction, is not only a symbol of transformation but also echoes the religious rite in which wine represents the blood and sacrifice. Consider how this scene, drawn with such unassuming tools, connects to grander narratives. It's an image that is repeated across time. Whether in ancient Roman mosaics or Renaissance paintings, the motif of the grape harvest, or wine press, often carried both secular and sacred meanings, signifying abundance, celebration, and spiritual transcendence. It’s an archetype that touches something primal within us, linking pleasure, labor, and ritual in one potent symbol. In Daubigny’s hands, the mundane act of wine pressing is rendered timeless, a testament to how our collective past continues to inform our present.