Twee varkens bij een houten hut c. 1811

Andreas Schelfhout sketched "Twee varkens bij een houten hut" using graphite, capturing a rustic scene of two pigs near a wooden hut. The pig, often associated with simple living, is steeped in layers of meaning across cultures. From ancient Greece, where the pig symbolized fertility and abundance, to its role in various religious contexts, the motif has undergone striking transformations. Think of the pig in the story of Circe turning Odysseus' men into swine. It is a warning against the loss of higher intellect, the animalistic urges of the human mind, and the perils of indulgence. Over time, this symbol has resurfaced in art, literature, and even modern psychology, evolving from an emblem of fertility to a commentary on human nature and the subconscious. These cyclical evolutions are more than mere repetitions; they are echoes of our collective memory, constantly reinterpreted through the lens of new experiences and insights.