Lopende man met lange stok in zijn hand, van achteren Possibly 1652

Harmen ter Borch sketched this 'Lopende man met lange stok in zijn hand, van achteren' with pen in 1652. Note the walking stick, an ancient symbol found across cultures, assisting physical movement and, metaphorically, life’s journey. It is a tool for balance, guidance, and defense, echoing the scepters of rulers and the staffs of pilgrims. Consider how, in ancient Greece, Hermes, the messenger god, carried a caduceus, a symbolic staff entwined with snakes, representing commerce, negotiation, and transitions. Reflect upon this image, this humble man, stick in hand, embodying the universal human journey. It is a figure that, regardless of time or place, resonates with our collective understanding of life’s path: forward, ever forward. The image's simplicity draws us into the depths of human experience.