Gardener with a Basket on her Arm, from Hortulanae series 1612 - 1616

Jacques Bellange etched "Gardener with a Basket on her Arm" in the early 17th century. The figure carries a basket, a symbol deeply rooted in the iconography of abundance and the provision of life's necessities. The motif of the basket appears in various contexts throughout art history, from ancient harvest festivals to depictions of charitable acts. We can observe it in Roman relief sculptures, where baskets overflowing with fruit symbolized prosperity, and later in Christian art, where bread-filled baskets evoked themes of charity and divine providence. The basket, as a container, transcends its physical form, engaging viewers on a deeply subconscious level. It becomes a vessel of collective memory, evoking primal associations with nourishment and security. This cyclical progression and transformation of the symbol continues today, with the image of a full basket as a signifier of wealth and prosperity.