Haver before 1893

Willem Wenckebach sketched this study of ‘Haver’, or oats, using pen and ink. The oat plant, seemingly simple, bears a heavy symbolic weight across cultures. Throughout history, grains like oats have represented sustenance and fertility. We see echoes of this in ancient harvest festivals, where grains symbolized the bounty of the earth and the promise of renewal. Think of Demeter, the Greek goddess of the harvest, whose image is often intertwined with fields of grain, embodying the life-giving force of nature. Even today, the image of a field of grain can evoke a sense of comfort and plenty, stirring deep-seated feelings of security linked to our primal need for food. This seemingly simple study connects us to the universal, timeless themes of life, growth, and the cyclical nature of existence.