Aardappelrooien 1887

Willem Witsen created this etching titled 'Aardappelrooien' - or 'Potato Harvest' - with etching on paper. Here we see a woman hunched over, gathering potatoes, a primal gesture deeply rooted in human history. Observe how her posture mirrors countless depictions of labor and toil across cultures. Bending to the earth is a universal symbol of sustenance. The iconography of harvest has resonated through time, echoing in ancient agricultural rites and fertility symbols. Think of Demeter, the Greek goddess of the harvest, whose daughter Persephone's abduction plunged the world into winter, only for her return to signal the rebirth of spring. Now, consider how Witsen’s modern image also evokes a certain melancholy, perhaps reflecting a broader awareness of the hardships faced by the working class. It speaks to our collective memory, engaging viewers on a profound, subconscious level. The act of harvest, cyclical and eternal, is thus reinterpreted, demonstrating how potent symbols evolve, carrying echoes of the past into our present.