Zittende vrouw c. 1679

Godfried Schalcken sketched this "Seated Woman" using graphite, a medium that allows for delicate lines, somewhere in the late 17th century. The relaxed, almost languid pose of the woman, is a posture resonant with classical antiquity and the Renaissance. We see echoes of Venus, goddesses who possess an innate, self-assured ease. Her slightly averted gaze is a gesture common across centuries, from ancient sculptures to the Madonnas of the Italian Renaissance. This gesture, suggesting a deep emotional state, can be traced back through art history and seems to tap into a collective memory. Schalcken, whether consciously or unconsciously, channels this history, engaging the viewer on a visceral level. Ultimately, we see the cyclical return and reinterpretation of symbols. Each age imprints its own nuances onto these enduring forms. This reminds us that we are all participants in a continuing dialogue across time.