Gevallen en vallende jongen op schaatsen before 1933

Hans Borrebach drew "Gevallen en vallende jongen op schaatsen" with ink and pencil, capturing a fleeting moment of youthful winter joy. Here, the precarious act of skating becomes a stage for the drama of balance and imbalance, a motif echoing the classical theme of Fortuna and her wheel. Notice how one boy teeters on the edge of control, arms outstretched like a figure on a ship's prow, while the other lies prone, skates upended like a fallen Icarus. This juxtaposition of triumph and mishap is a recurring theme throughout art history, a symbolic reminder of life's inherent uncertainties. Think of the tarot's "Wheel of Fortune," which embodies the cyclical nature of fate, where one's rise invariably leads to another's fall. The dark shadows cast by the figures amplify this sense of impending doom, hinting at the subconscious anxieties underlying even the most carefree moments. The image engages us on a visceral level, tapping into our own memories of youthful exuberance and the inevitable stumbles along the way. This is no mere genre scene; it is a potent reminder of the eternal dance between control and chaos, a theme that resonates across time and cultures.