Spittende boerin op het land c. 1886 - 1887

Willem Witsen made this etching of a spitting farmer in the fields. Observe the bowed figure, the turning away. In many cultures, spitting carries a complex symbolism. Often, it is an act of exorcism: a ritual to ward off evil or misfortune. In agricultural societies, it is linked to the earth and its fertility, thus spitting on the ground serves as a symbolic return to the earth, a way to invigorate the land. We find this motif echoed in ancient Roman agrarian rites and in indigenous cultures where saliva is believed to possess spiritual powers. Consider too how the act of spitting can also be an expression of disgust, a rejection of something distasteful or unwanted. The woman’s gesture engages us on a visceral level, evoking a primal recognition of humanity’s connection to the soil and the struggles it entails. It’s a visual echo resonating through time, continually re-emerging to remind us of our ancient ties.