Mevrouw Kamphuijzen in de rol van Diana 1805 - 1836

This drawing by Johannes Jelgerhuis depicts Mevrouw Kamphuijzen as Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt, moon, and wilderness. The most striking symbol here is the crescent moon adorning her head, instantly connecting her to Diana's lunar associations. The bow and quiver reinforce her identity as a huntress, a symbol of power and independence. We observe the ‘Diana motif’ across centuries, for example, in Renaissance paintings, where the goddess often embodies feminine strength. Yet, even earlier, the bow appears as an attribute of Artemis, Diana’s Greek counterpart. What began as a symbol of a goddess has shifted to denote female empowerment. This motif engages viewers on a subconscious level, sparking a connection to archetypal figures and primordial narratives deeply ingrained in the collective memory. The drawing taps into our deepest cultural memory, where these symbols evoke not only the goddess herself but also the complex interplay of power, femininity, and nature. The Diana symbol has proven to be cyclical, recurring throughout art history, each time charged with new emotional and cultural significance.