Harjun Paavo, Löyttymäki 1885

Helene Schjerfbeck rendered 'Harjun Paavo, Löyttymäki' perhaps with charcoal and chalk. Note the man’s cane, a prominent symbol of support and guidance, yet it also speaks to themes of aging, vulnerability, and the passage of time. Throughout art history, the cane appears as a scepter, a symbol of authority and power. Consider the ancient Egyptian pharaohs who wielded a crook and flail, or the Christian bishops with their crosiers; these are canes transformed into symbols of leadership. Yet, in Schjerfbeck's drawing, the cane is not a symbol of power but of frailty. It's as if the collective memory of the cane, as a signifier of authority, has been inverted, revealing the underlying vulnerability that all humans share. The image resonates on a deep, subconscious level, reminding us of our mortality and the cyclical nature of life and its continuous transformation.