Meertje en portretten 1944

This is a page from a photo album of black and white photographs by an anonymous artist. Note the recurring motif in these portraits: each features a woman, holding a bag. The bag is more than a mere accessory; it speaks of journey, a vessel for the personal items one carries through life. It is suggestive of the bearer’s burdens, or perhaps even hopes and aspirations, all kept close at hand. We are left to wonder if there's a specific reason these images were all compiled together. Consider too, the stairs in one portrait, which evokes the allegorical "Ladder of Success," a motif we see repeated in various forms throughout art history. Here, the woman stands at the base, a quiet anticipation in her stance. This evokes a deep, subconscious connection to the myth of ascent, engaging viewers on a level beyond the immediate image. It is a poignant reminder of how symbols resurface and evolve, each time carrying echoes of the past into new contexts.