Ein Schäfer und ein Händler auf Wanderschaft 

Wilhelm Altheim’s drawing depicts two figures, a shepherd and a merchant, caught in the eternal act of wandering. These figures, each with their distinct burdens and tools, are as old as civilization itself. Note the shepherd’s staff, a motif stretching back to antiquity. In ancient Greece, the staff was an attribute of Hermes, the guide of souls, while in the Old Testament, it symbolizes divine guidance and authority. Yet here, the staff is merely a prop, a support for a weary traveler. The merchant, with his heavy pack, recalls images of Atlas, burdened with the weight of the world. This motif has evolved from a symbol of cosmic responsibility to one of earthly toil, reflecting a shift in human consciousness from the divine to the mundane. Such images resonate deep within us, stirring ancestral memories of migration, trade, and the human quest for sustenance and meaning. This is the cyclical nature of symbols: resurfacing, evolving, and carrying the weight of history across generations.