Refugee Family 1922

Wilhelm Oesterle etched this image of a refugee family, capturing a timeless scene of displacement and resilience. The father, burdened with a sack, evokes the ancient figure of Atlas, forever carrying the weight of the world—or in this case, the family's possessions and hopes. Consider the mother, clutching her child, a pose reminiscent of the Madonna and Child. This universal symbol of maternal protection appears across cultures, from ancient Egyptian art to Renaissance paintings, each time embodying the sanctity of life and the nurturing bond between mother and child. In Oesterle's print, this motif underscores the vulnerability and the fierce protectiveness inherent in the refugee experience. The act of carrying, whether a child or worldly goods, speaks to our collective memory of survival and the enduring human spirit. The emotional weight of this image is palpable, a visual echo of countless journeys undertaken throughout history, each step marked by uncertainty and the hope for a safe haven. The scene reminds us that these primal scenes of human suffering never end; they only appear to take on new forms.