Holding on 

Cathrine Edlinger-Kunze's painting presents us with a figure in repose amidst floating orbs, painted with loose brushstrokes and a melancholic palette. Notice how the balls, or globes, echo those held by depictions of Fortuna, the Roman goddess of fortune, or the globus cruciger, a Christian symbol of earthly power held by emperors and kings. Here, they appear untethered, destabilized. The woman’s touch, a gesture of gentle protection, is a symbol that transcends time. We see it echoed in countless Madonna paintings, a protective hand held up in a gesture of grief, acceptance, and grace. The emotional weight of this gesture resonates deeply, evoking feelings of vulnerability, longing, and a connection to primal experiences. Like the recurring images we see throughout history, this gesture taps into a collective memory. The cyclical return and transformation of symbols such as this, is part of the enduring power of images.