Oude man met plunjezak voor een schutting 1868 - 1909

Charles Boom etched this image of an old man with a knapsack in the late 19th century. His figure, burdened with possessions and leaning on a staff, immediately evokes the archetypal wanderer, a symbol deeply embedded in our collective consciousness. Consider the staff he carries. From the shepherd's crook to the pilgrim's stave, it has appeared across epochs and cultures. Recall the Greek Hermes, a messenger between worlds, his caduceus—a staff entwined with snakes—a symbol of balance and negotiation. In a biblical sense, it is the symbol of the shepherd. The old man's bag is a motif rich with meaning, often representing life's burdens. Its reappearance throughout art history connects us to universal themes of journey and self-discovery. Like the wanderers of old, he carries not just belongings, but the weight of memory and experience. This image is a powerful echo of humanity’s perpetual search for meaning.