Woodcutter 1885

Van Gogh’s "Woodcutter," made with a reed pen and ink, depicts a man in the throes of labor, ax raised high, ready to strike. The image evokes a primal connection between man and nature, a theme as old as art itself. Consider the figure of the woodcutter, a recurring motif throughout history. In ancient myths, he is the archetypal laborer, often associated with strength and toil. We find echoes of this figure in depictions of biblical figures, as well as pagan deities wielding axes and hammers. This cyclical return to basic labors such as woodcutting is often laden with symbolism and speaks to a deep, subconscious need to return to simplicity, a longing for a life untouched by modernity. The woodcutter remains a potent reminder of our connection to the earth, a symbol of the enduring human spirit.