Boerin met brandhout onder haar arm 1657 - 1707

Hendrik Bary etched this image of a peasant woman with firewood in the 17th century. The woman’s folded arms are central. This seemingly simple gesture carries a weight of meaning. In images of the Virgin Mary, for example, folded arms express humility and acceptance of destiny. Similarly, consider the introspective poses in portraits throughout the ages, where arms crossed signal thoughtfulness and a turning inward. But in this image, the woman's posture suggests not just reflection, but also resilience. The firewood held close represents a burden, yet she carries it with a quiet strength. The motif of bearing weight appears across cultures, from classical Atlas figures to depictions of laborers in socialist realism. This woman is etched in a non-linear procession through time, connecting her to those who bear burdens, seen and unseen. It echoes our own subconscious understanding of duty and the human spirit's capability to endure.