Mevrouw Ziesenis in de rol van Fedra 1805 - 1836

Johannes Jelgerhuis sketched Mrs. Ziesenis as Phaidra, the mythological queen consumed by forbidden desire. Notice her dramatic gesture, hand to chest, and the wide, imploring stance: gestures that speak to Phaedra’s inner turmoil. This posture is not unique to this portrayal. We see echoes of it in classical depictions of tragic figures throughout history. Think of the ancient Greek sculptures of mourning women, their bodies contorted by grief, or even the Virgin Mary in countless Renaissance paintings, her hands raised in sorrow. The gesture transcends time, each iteration coloured by its cultural and historical moment, yet united by the raw expression of intense emotion. This resonates deeply because it taps into our collective memory, a shared human experience of longing and despair. It is a primal scream, a visual embodiment of suffering that bypasses reason and speaks directly to our subconscious, reminding us of the enduring power of human emotions.