A Cooper c. 1630 - 1660

This etching presents a cooper, a craftsman who makes wooden barrels, by Willem Basse. Observe the cooper's tools and the barrel staves he carries. These are not merely objects; they are symbols of labor, community, and tradition, rooted deeply in the cycle of sustenance. Across cultures, the image of carrying—burdens, tools, or harvests—resonates. Consider Atlas, bearing the world. Or classical depictions of Christ carrying the cross, a profound symbol of suffering. And then, the cooper’s burden, so mundane in comparison, yet equally potent in its connection to human endeavor. Here, the simple act of labor becomes a symbol, etched into our collective memory, each line imbued with the weight of generations past. It reminds us that even in the most ordinary of lives, there's a universal story of survival and continuity. A cycle, always turning.