Der Berchtesgadener Hausierer Toni Adner im Alter von 113 Jahren in seinem Zimmer 24 - 1818

Johann Christoph Erhard sketched Toni Adner, a 113-year-old peddler from Berchtesgaden, in what seems to be his humble room. Note the walking stick propped against the wall, a stark symbol of aging and diminished mobility. The stick as a symbol transcends time and place. Think of the shepherd's crook in ancient pastoral scenes, or the staffs carried by pilgrims in medieval art. It is more than just a support; it is a symbol of guidance, authority, and the journey of life. In ancient Greece, Asclepius, the god of medicine, was represented with a rod entwined by a serpent, which has become a lasting symbol of medicine and healing. The image, although simple, taps into our collective memory of the human life cycle, engaging us on a subconscious level. The peddler's stick is a potent reminder of the passage of time, the frailty of the human condition, and the universal journey we all undertake. This simple object speaks volumes, connecting us to shared human experiences that echo through art history.