En so med grise (udkast til keramisk skulptur) 1897

Theodor Philipsen sketched "En so med grise", or "A sow with piglets," as a study for a ceramic sculpture. The central motif, a sow surrounded by her young, is rich with symbolism, echoing ancient themes of fertility, nurture, and abundance. Consider how this image reverberates with the Roman goddess Ceres, often depicted with pigs, emblems of prosperity. Yet, the pig also carries darker connotations, linked to gluttony and base instincts. Think of the pig in medieval allegories or even in modern political cartoons; its meaning morphs, shaped by cultural anxieties and social commentary. This duality—life-giving yet associated with vice—engages us on a subconscious level, stirring complex emotions linked to our own primal drives and societal values. Note how this symbol has continually resurfaced, each time colored by new meanings. The emotional power of this grouping lies in its ability to evoke both tenderness and unease, forever oscillating in a cyclical dance of cultural memory.