Personificatie van Schaarste (Carestia) als Ceres met koren en cornucopia 1645 - 1709

Curator: Oh, my, she looks burdened, doesn't she? All that abundance seems to weigh her down. Editor: That's a very interesting observation. This engraving, dating back to somewhere between 1645 and 1709, is titled "Personification of Scarcity (Carestia) as Ceres with wheat and cornucopia". The artist, regrettably, remains anonymous. Curator: Scarcity portrayed as Ceres? That's delightfully perverse. Usually, you see Ceres bursting with joie de vivre. Here, she almost seems...ashamed of her bounty. Editor: Precisely! The image offers layers of symbolism. The cornucopia overflowing with fruit is a classic emblem of prosperity, yet it's paired with this figure, labelled as "Anonna," associated with scarcity, and bearing a heavy expression. The engraving medium also reinforces a sense of constraint. It really prompts one to question what true abundance signifies. Curator: Like, is it about the harvest, or the way we share it? Is she downcast because even with overflowing cornucopias, some still go hungry? The laurel wreath, traditionally a symbol of victory, just looks like she's trying to hide. Editor: It's a visual paradox designed to provoke thought about economic disparity, no doubt intensified during periods of famine or hardship. Remember, iconography crystallizes emotions over epochs; in her hunched pose, Anonna reflects enduring anxieties. Curator: An enduring unease captured in a few precisely etched lines... she whispers about our own conflicted relationship with prosperity, with just enough style and flair to still unsettle the mind today. It makes you consider what scarcity is in relation to surplus and the role each has in one's reality and existence. Editor: Absolutely. A poignant commentary—skillfully executed, even without knowing who held the engraving tool. An unnerving glimpse into the past that reflects our present.