Liefdesbrief 1670 - 1704

This is Cornelis Dusart’s ‘Love Letter’, made around 1700. It depicts two nuns reading a letter of love. Notice the contrasting symbols of devotion and earthly desires. The cross on the book and rosary beads on the left stand for religious commitment, whereas the letter and the title, ‘Love Messenger’, clearly denote worldly love. The nun’s gaze downwards towards the letter reminds one of similar gestures of acceptance and humility in religious art, yet here, it is recontextualized. Consider how often the motif of reading appears in art, from religious texts to personal letters, each instance carries a different weight. Here, the presence of a possible alcoholic drink on the table enhances the idea of worldliness. The image, therefore, becomes a vessel carrying both sacred and profane longings. It is a complex dance of cultural memory, one where symbols shift and adapt, echoing through time, resonating with our ever-changing human experience.