Staande vrouw met boek 1710 - 1772

Petrus Johannes van Reysschoot sketched this standing woman with sanguine chalk. The book she holds is no mere object; it's a symbol resonating across centuries. In the Renaissance, a book often denoted learning, wisdom, and status, particularly for women, whose access to education was often limited. We see echoes of this in earlier depictions of saints holding scriptures, emblems of divine wisdom. But here, the book is more intimate, almost like a mirror reflecting her inner thoughts. Consider how this differs from, say, ancient Egyptian scrolls, symbols of power and divine decree, wielded by pharaohs. Our woman's book seems less about external authority and more about internal discovery. This points to a shift in cultural values, reflecting the growing importance of individual thought. Such images tap into our collective memory, stirring a deep, subconscious connection to knowledge and self-discovery. The image speaks to the timeless human quest for understanding, subtly reminding us of the continuous cycle of learning.