Huilend kind, vrouw met een klapstoel en een man die een balspel speelt c. 1930 - 1940

Otto Verhagen's sketch captures a fleeting moment, yet it resonates with enduring human experiences. The wailing child stands out, his gesture of distress—open mouth and outstretched hands—echoing the ancient "pathetic" formula. This potent symbol of vulnerability and emotional outpouring finds its roots in classical antiquity, seen in depictions of mourning figures on sarcophagi. Think of Hecuba lamenting her fate. This gesture transcends time, resurfacing in countless artworks across cultures, each time imbued with new contexts. The child's cry, a primal expression of pain and need, strikes a chord deep within us. The boy’s pain reminds us of our own past, of infantile feelings of helplessness, of the primal scream against the injustices of life. Through Verhagen's work, we witness how this symbol continues its journey, a testament to art’s enduring power to evoke, connect, and provoke.