Herfst 1660

This etching by Jan van Troyen, titled "Herfst," shows a variety of activities, all related to the harvest season. At first glance, one sees figures engaged in labor, but look closer and you see the image is replete with symbols of abundance and the cyclical nature of life. Consider the barrel. The act of containing, storing, suggests preparation for the future. The barrel is not just a vessel; it is a symbol of provision. One can see the echoes of vessels in ancient myths and rituals, from Noah's Ark to the amphorae of the Greeks, each carrying within it the promise of survival and continuity. Note also the ladder. It's a motif found across cultures, from Jacob's Ladder to the Tower of Babel. Here, it represents the connection between the earthly and the celestial, the human and the divine. As the wheel turns, so do our symbols, evolving yet forever linked to the primal needs and desires of humanity. We see that this is a pattern in the human psyche. We see it, we interpret it, we recreate it.