Vaas met twee saters 1764

This drawing was made by Benigno Bossi in the 18th century and it depicts a vase, or rather, the idea of one. This vessel is upheld by two satyrs, those woodland deities, part human and part goat, that have populated the arts since antiquity. Note how these figures strain to hold the heavy vessel. They are in the service of something greater than themselves. We have seen this motif before, haven't we? Recall the caryatids of ancient Greek temples, figures burdened with architectural weight, or even Atlas, eternally supporting the celestial sphere. These symbols speak to the burdens we carry, the responsibilities that weigh upon us. They are visual representations of the psychological loads we bear, both individually and collectively. But consider the vase: is it a vessel of plenty, a source of nourishment, or simply an empty form? The answer, I suspect, lies not in the object itself, but in the eye of the beholder. The symbol resurfaces again and again throughout time, evolving but still recognizable, tapping into our collective memories.