Jonge vrouw met takkenbos c. 1884 - 1887

Willem Witsen created this charcoal drawing, "Young Woman with Bundle of Twigs," now held in the Rijksmuseum. Note how the figure of the woman is hunched and burdened by the twigs she carries. This echoes classical and Renaissance portrayals of burdened figures, such as Atlas bearing the world, or even images of the Virgin Mary mourning. This burden is reminiscent of the ancient Roman motif of the “genius,” or spirit, of a place or person, often depicted carrying a cornucopia or other symbol of plenty—but also of responsibility. Like the genius, she seems to be carrying the weight of her world. Think of how these themes persist and evolve. The pose is almost a mirror of the Greek Caryatids who were condemned to bear the weight of a temple on their heads, forever. It is a powerful reminder of the eternal cycles of burden and responsibility that resonate across time.