Zittende boer met een schop c. 1868s - 1878s

Jan Willem van Borselen sketched this seated farmer with a shovel using graphite on paper. The shovel stands as a symbol of toil, a humble tool connecting humanity to the earth. Consider how the motif of laboring hands resonates across time. From the ancient Egyptians depicted in tomb paintings eternally tilling the soil, to Millet's iconic "The Sower," the act of working the land has been a recurring theme in art. The shovel itself, though simple, becomes a potent symbol. In medieval art, tools of labor are frequently depicted alongside saints, signifying their earthly occupations as integral to their identities. Here, the farmer's weary posture evokes a collective memory of agrarian life, tapping into our subconscious recognition of the fundamental human struggle for sustenance and the enduring bond between people and the land. This image is not merely a snapshot of a man at rest, but a visual echo resonating with centuries of human experience.