Gezicht op een onbekende vrouw met een lampion before 1900

This photogravure, made by René Le Bègue around the turn of the century, captures an unknown woman holding a lit lantern. The lantern, a symbol of enlightenment and guidance through darkness, evokes ancient rituals and philosophical quests for knowledge. Consider its echo in antiquity, where lanterns illuminated mystery rites, or in the Renaissance, where they guided scholars through dark libraries. This same motif appears in Caravaggio’s paintings, where candlelight reveals hidden truths. Here, it is distilled into a solitary figure, the lantern not only shedding light but embodying an inner illumination, resonating with our own search for understanding. This image is a potent reminder that the symbols we create and observe are powerful forces that engage with our deepest emotional and subconscious states, allowing us to experience a profound connection with both our past and present selves.