Geharnaste man met twee vrouwen en kind before 1841

Charles Rochussen created this drawing of a ‘Harnessed Man with Two Women and Child’ with pen in grey in the nineteenth century. The central image presents a man in armour, flanked by women and children. He is the epitome of the protective patriarch, evoking images of the Roman paterfamilias, the father who holds absolute authority. Yet, this symbol is far from static. Consider the recurring motif of the family unit throughout history. In ancient Egyptian art, we see pharaohs depicted with their families, emphasizing dynastic continuity. Contrast this with medieval Christian art, where the Holy Family symbolizes divine grace and redemption. The shift in meaning is palpable. This drawing, however, taps into a deeper collective memory. The armoured man is not merely a protector but a figure burdened by responsibility. This symbol resonates even today, and its emotional power lies in the subconscious anxieties surrounding family, duty, and the weight of history. The armoured man is bound to his role, and so are we to our ancestral past. The cyclical progression of this symbol continues, as it reappears with new meanings in different contexts.