Portret van Wilhelmina van Zijll de Jong met hond 1930 - 1935

This photographic portrait captures Wilhelmina van Zijll de Jong with her dog. A large birdcage looms in the background. The inclusion of caged birds introduces a compelling dichotomy. Birds, traditionally symbols of freedom and the soul’s transcendence, are here confined, echoing perhaps the sitter's own societal constraints or personal longings. We might recall ancient Roman depictions of captive birds as symbols of domesticity and status, reflecting control over nature, or even the "bird-catcher" motif that reappears in Mozart's Magic Flute, a lighthearted figure with darker undertones. This contrast taps into our subconscious understanding of freedom versus captivity, desire versus reality. The cage thus becomes a powerful symbol, resonating through cultural memory. It resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different contexts, always provoking introspection on the human condition.