Siddende gammel fisker 1810 - 1873

Wilhelm Marstrand sketched this seated old fisherman with pencil. His staff and bare feet root him to the earth, while his faraway gaze speaks of introspection. The staff, a near-universal symbol, appears in ancient mythologies, as the scepter of kings, the crook of shepherds, and the walking stick of pilgrims. It can be seen as a signifier of power and authority but also as a symbol of support. Think of the Rod of Asclepius, the Greco-Roman deity of medicine and healing. The snake coiled around the staff is a powerful symbol of transformation, and of life's cyclical nature. Here, though, the old man's sad look is the most striking element. The fisherman reminds us of our own mortality and our shared human experience. The artist captures something timeless in this simple sketch. The work resonates with a quiet dignity, inviting us to reflect on our own journey through time.