View of the Village of Limay 1845

This is Eugène Blery's delicate etching of the village of Limay. Observe the oxen; they are not merely beasts of burden but symbols deeply rooted in human history. Since ancient times, oxen have represented sustenance, labor, and sacrifice. Think of the Apis bull in ancient Egypt, revered as a deity of fertility and power, or consider the sacrificial oxen in Greek and Roman rituals, offered to appease the gods. Even in the Bible, oxen are frequently mentioned. They were used to plough the land and as offerings. The image of these animals pulling carts connects us to an archetypal past, where the rhythms of life were dictated by the turning of the earth. This humble etching then, through its depiction of oxen, taps into a powerful collective memory. It subtly reminds us of our deep connection to nature and the enduring cycle of life and labor.