Interieur met schillende boerin 1879

Piet Verhaert etched this "Interior with peeling farmer" sometime in the late 19th century, capturing a scene laden with everyday symbolism. The seated woman, peeling perhaps potatoes, is bathed in domestic light; a pitcher and bowl sit on the table beside her. Her task is mundane, yet it speaks to the cycle of nourishment, reminiscent of Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, whose image ensured the fertility of the fields and the provision of food. The act of peeling itself holds layers of meaning. Consider how, in medieval iconography, fruits like apples were symbols of temptation, their peeling could represent a stripping away of worldly desires. Here, the woman peels away at the outer layers to reveal the sustenance within. This image then becomes a conduit, connecting us to centuries of cultural memory. We see echoes of archetypal figures and timeless narratives, subtly reminding us of the fundamental rhythms of life.