Fotoreproductie van een tekening van een jongen die een meisje over een boomstam over een rivier draagt c. 1872 - 1882

Here, in this anonymous drawing, we see a boy carrying a girl across a fallen tree trunk over a river. The image depicts a common motif: the perilous journey. The boy, acting as a protector, carries the girl to safety, evoking the ancient Greek myth of Saint Christopher, who carried the Christ Child across a river. This motif—the strong one carrying the weak—appears across cultures, symbolizing protection, guidance, and the burden of responsibility. Think of Aeneas carrying his father Anchises from the burning city of Troy. Consider the psychological implications: The image taps into our primal need for security and our innate desire to help those vulnerable. The river, a symbol of life's unpredictable currents, adds tension to the scene, engaging our anxieties and subconscious desire for safety. This motif of crossing dangers is not linear but cyclical, a testament to our shared human experiences. This visual language is continually reshaped, echoing through time, and resurfacing in new contexts.