Boer met mand aan linker arm, achteromkijkend 1630 - 1665

This print, created by Salomon Savery, depicts a farmer with a basket, glancing over his shoulder. The act of looking back, a motif that has haunted artists and thinkers across centuries, is imbued here with a potent mix of curiosity and apprehension. Consider, for instance, Lot's wife, from the biblical narrative, who, against divine command, looks back at Sodom and is transformed into a pillar of salt. This act transcends mere disobedience; it embodies a profound attachment to the past and a resistance to the uncertain future. Similarly, the farmer’s backward glance can be interpreted as a moment of indecision, caught between what is known and what lies ahead. This motif can even be traced to Orpheus, who looked back to Eurydice and lost her forever. These glances, seemingly simple gestures, tap into our deepest fears and desires, reminding us of the psychological weight of choices and the eternal allure of what we leave behind. The farmer is not merely looking back; he is engaging in a timeless, subconscious dialogue with our collective past.