Autumn 1700 - 1800

This drawing, "Autumn," captures a scene of seasonal activity, rendered with pen and brown ink, heightened with white, on blue paper. The barrels, prominently placed, are symbols of harvest and abundance, suggesting preparation for the colder months. The motif of the barrel echoes across time, from the storage vessels of ancient Rome to the Renaissance depictions of Bacchus, the god of wine, often shown with an overflowing barrel, representing revelry and plenty. Consider how, in Egyptian art, granaries were depicted as symbols of life-sustaining sustenance, and how this imagery persists. In this drawing, it's subtly transformed into something more immediate. There's an underlying tension in the image. The barrels, usually a symbol of joy, seem heavy, and the figure struggles to move them. This echoes the cyclical nature of life itself, where joy and labor are inextricably linked, engaging us on a subconscious level. Thus, symbols reappear, evolving through history.