Kind gekleed als pelgrim in doolhof 1628

This small woodcut, made by Christoffel van Sichem II, presents a child dressed as a pilgrim navigating a complex maze, its stark black lines against the pale paper creating a scene of stark contrasts. The labyrinth itself dominates the composition, an intricate pattern of horizontal lines suggesting a space of entrapment and disorientation. The pilgrim's journey is emphasized by the way the artist uses line and form. The child, barefoot and bearing a staff, is positioned in the foreground, his figure rendered with detailed lines that highlight his vulnerability amidst the geometric rigidity of the maze. Notice the tower in the background, topped by a winged figure, perhaps representing divine guidance. Yet its presence is dwarfed by the overwhelming maze. Sichem's work invites a semiotic reading, where the maze symbolizes life's trials and the pilgrim's journey represents the search for meaning. The woodcut doesn't offer a clear resolution, but this ambiguity is what makes it a site of endless re-interpretation.