Paulus van Thebe bekijkt man met twee ossen 1830

This print by Karl Palzow depicts Paulus van Thebe, also known as Paul the Hermit, observing a man with two oxen. Here, we see the symbolic weight of labor and contemplation juxtaposed. The oxen, ancient symbols of labor and sacrifice, are reminiscent of the oxen found in classical antiquity, pulling plows and bearing burdens, representations of the toils of human existence. Consider the image of Europa and the bull. The bull, in that instance, becomes a symbol of potent transformation and destiny. However, here, in Palzow’s image, the oxen seem to convey a simpler message about sustenance and daily life. But, what does it mean to be observed by the hermit, removed from society, and closer to the divine? This juxtaposition invites us to reflect on the cyclical return of these archetypes. These figures and motifs echo through history, accumulating layers of meaning. They act as a conduit between our conscious understanding and the deeper currents of cultural memory.