Kop van een ezel en een landschap 1874 - 1875

This is a pencil drawing by Willem Cornelis Rip, depicting the head of a donkey against a sketched landscape. The donkey, often a symbol of humility and patience, has carried diverse meanings across cultures. In ancient mythologies, the donkey can represent both the sacred and the profane. Think of Apuleius’s "The Golden Ass," where transformation into a donkey leads to enlightenment, or the donkey's association with the god Dionysus, embodying primal energies. Interestingly, we also find the donkey as a symbol of stubbornness. How fascinating that the same animal can embody such contrary qualities! This duality allows it to reflect our own internal contradictions. Perhaps this sketch captures not just the physical likeness of the donkey, but also a deeper resonance with our own complex natures. The image resonates with a sense of enduring presence, a cycle of symbolic rebirth.