Een ieder draagt zijn last naar de molen c. 1590 - 1613

This anonymous engraving shows us a scene of labor and judgment, rendered in ink on paper. The image invites us to consider the burdens we carry, both literally and figuratively, as we navigate the complexities of social structures. Here, people from all walks of life, rich and poor, carry sacks on their backs toward a central mill, a metaphor for the inescapable grind of daily life. The image is deeply rooted in the social and economic anxieties of its time, a period marked by stark class divisions and widespread social unrest. Positioned above the mill are allegorical figures such as Justice, and Death with his bow and arrow, who preside over this theater of human toil. The emotional weight of the artwork lies in its depiction of human persistence in the face of relentless pressure, as each individual contributes to the collective effort. The artwork prompts us to reflect on the systems that govern our lives and the burdens we bear in a society that often seems indifferent to individual struggles.