Ontlasting vanuit een boot / twee zwervers 1707

This engraving was made by Jan Goeree, likely around the turn of the 18th century. Here, we see two scenes, each offering a glimpse into the lives of transient figures. In the lower scene, notice the motif of burden and passage. A man and a child are weighed down by their belongings as they appear to be moving, evoking the ancient archetype of the wanderer, burdened by fate. It echoes through time, reminiscent of the figures in classical antiquity carrying their worldly possessions, or even the biblical narratives of exodus and exile. Such images tap into our collective memory, stirring a deep sense of empathy and perhaps unease. They remind us of the shared human experience of displacement, whether chosen or imposed. These scenes create a powerful emotional resonance that transcends time and cultural boundaries. The recurrence of these motifs demonstrates that such emotional states of displacement and burden are deeply rooted in the human psyche.