Vrouw aan weefgetouw 1779 - 1785

Jan Brandes created this drawing of a woman at a loom using graphite. The loom, an ancient symbol of creation and fate, immediately draws our eye. From antiquity weaving was associated with destiny: think of the Greek Fates spinning the thread of life. This motif echoes through time, appearing in tapestries and paintings across cultures, each iteration subtly shifting in meaning. The rhythmic, repetitive motion of weaving can be seen as a metaphor for the cycles of life and death but, in a psychological sense, it can be seen as an act of control. A woman actively shaping her existence through each woven thread. Ultimately, the loom, as depicted by Brandes, isn't simply a tool but a profound symbol of human agency and the enduring connection between our present and the echoes of the past.