Man bezig het merg van de sagopalm tot meel te bewerken c. 1837 - 1854

This watercolor by Ernest Alfred Hardouin captures a man processing sago palm into flour. The repetitive, cyclical motion of the man’s work connects to ancient themes of labor and sustenance. Consider how this scene echoes in other cultural depictions of work. In ancient Egyptian tomb paintings, we see similar repetitive gestures in the harvesting of grain, a vital act for survival. This primal action—transforming raw material into nourishment—resonates deeply within our collective memory. It speaks to humanity’s constant struggle and adaptation within the natural world. The act of processing food also touches on transformation. The rhythmic beating of the palm mirrors the rhythm of life, of taking and giving. This image subtly invokes a sense of the cyclical, reminding us that even the simplest tasks are steeped in the long, unbroken chain of human existence.