A Fresh Breeze from the Sea 1885

Walter Satterlee created this etching of a woman on a windswept coast in the late 19th century. She is depicted struggling to hold onto her hat in a gale. This struggle against the elements echoes motifs found throughout art history, representing the human condition. Consider the "Ship of Fools" imagery from the Renaissance; humankind is constantly bombarded by the tempests of life. Note the flock of birds and the bending thistle bush. Throughout Western art, these elements are symbolic of resilience in the face of adversity. There is a deep psychological element that plays out here. The hat becomes a shield against an overwhelming force. We can imagine a connection to ancient Greek mythology, where a hero like Odysseus is battered by fate yet prevails. The image evokes feelings of vulnerability, but also strength. Symbols such as the "ship of fools," birds, and bending trees recur throughout history, representing cultural memory and our constant negotiation with the forces around us.