Staande vrouw met hoed, die een mand draagt 1797 - 1838

Johannes Christiaan Schotel captured this standing woman with charcoal, a simple subject made profound. At first glance, she is merely a woman with a basket, yet her hat, a broad circle shielding her face, speaks volumes. Consider the halo, that disc of light around divine figures, here transposed onto a simple tool of sun protection. This hat, a mundane object, elevates her, reminiscent of ancient Roman sun discs, symbols of status and divinity. Note the way she carries her basket. It reminds me of depictions of women in marketplaces in Ancient Greece, or offerings in pre-Christian rituals. The basket is not just a container; it’s a vessel of life, a bearer of sustenance, a symbol resonating through time. It’s an enduring image, echoing through centuries, a powerful undercurrent that pulls us back to communal memory and the timeless cycle of providing and nurturing.