Boerin met een kan een een hark c. 1846 - 1882

This drawing, by Cornelis Springer, presents a woman carrying a jug and a rake. These symbols of labor and rural life are not new. Consider the water jug: it’s a universal vessel, vital across cultures, but here, it is not merely functional. It echoes images of ancient water bearers, figures revered in mythology for their life-sustaining role. The rake too—simple, yet it speaks of harvest, a timeless motif linked to fertility and the cyclical rhythm of nature. Recall classical depictions of Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, often shown with similar tools. Through centuries, the jug and rake have appeared in countless forms, each time carrying echoes of their primal significance, subtly altered by societal shifts. What began as symbols of survival have evolved into potent signifiers of cultural identity, imbued with nostalgia and a yearning for simpler times. These objects resonate with our collective memory, stirring deep, often subconscious feelings about our connection to the earth, the past, and the rhythms of life itself.