The Wood-cutters 1880

Sir Hubert von Herkomer's "The Wood-cutters" is a wood engraving depicting laborers hard at work in a dense forest. The scene evokes an eternal struggle—humans versus nature. Consider the symbol of the axe. From ancient Minoan labrys to the fasces of Roman authority, the double-headed axe represented power and the ability to transform the world. Here, the single axe signifies a more direct, physical engagement with the environment. Think of the figures of classical antiquity, such as Hercules, whose labors shaped civilization, or the medieval woodwoses, wild men of the forest. In their poses and labor, these woodcutters echo a primal connection to nature that resonates through the ages. This connection stirs the collective memory of humanity’s long-standing relationship with the wilderness, a theme that continues to resurface in art and folklore.