Houten bank met bezem, ton, kruik en klompen 1809 - 1854

This drawing, made by Cornelis de Kruyff, presents a modest arrangement: a wooden bench, broom, barrel, jug, and clogs. Each object whispers tales of domesticity and the daily grind. Observe the broom, leaning wearily against the bench. Across cultures, the broom is not merely a tool for cleanliness. It appears in folklore as a symbol of purification, banishing evil spirits, or in some traditions, a means of transition, like the ritualistic sweeping away of the old year to welcome the new. It also reminds us of the Greek goddess Baubo, who used crude gestures to lift Demeter from her grief after her daughter Persephone was abducted by Hades. The clogs, discarded nearby, suggest a moment's rest, a pause from labor. These simple objects carry the weight of centuries, connecting us to countless generations who have toiled and rested, their lives interwoven with the rhythms of home. These symbols are not static; they evolve, adapting to new cultural landscapes, yet their essence—their power to evoke deep-seated emotions and memories—remains.