Zittende vrouw op een paard met twee kannen 1841 - 1857

Johan Daniel Koelman rendered this watercolor drawing of a woman riding a horse with two jugs. Here, we see water-filled jugs that have always symbolized purification, nourishment, and life. From ancient Greek hydriai to medieval aquamaniles, vessels containing water are potent symbols. Consider the tale of Rebekah at the well, offering water to Abraham’s servant, a motif repeated across cultures, emphasizing hospitality and life-sustaining generosity. The jug is transformed by the artist, yet its essence remains. The presence of water, an essential element, evokes a sense of primal importance. Our collective memory subtly recognizes this figure as an elemental force, an unconscious connection to a time when water meant survival. It is not merely a genre scene, but a universal echo of the life-sustaining power of water and the enduring role of women as its bearers.