Dienstbode staande bij een pomp 1871 - 1911

Achille Kas created this image of a maid standing by a pump with etching sometime between 1861 and 1927. Water, and the act of drawing it, have carried potent symbolism across millennia. We see this everyday action elevated, imbued with deeper meaning. Consider the classical nymphs of ancient fountains, or even the biblical Rebecca at the well, her labor a prelude to profound destiny. Our maid, too, stands at a threshold, not merely of a doorway, but of potential transformation. Water is life, but also a mirror, reflecting not just the physical world but the depths of our own souls. It's a primal substance. Just as water seeks its own level, so too does the human spirit strive for equilibrium, a balance between toil and tranquility. This simple scene resonates far beyond its humble setting, tapping into our collective memory of water's enduring significance.