Portret van Petronella de Waert c. 1670

Gesina ter Borch rendered this watercolor and gouache portrait of Petronella de Waert. The pearl necklace and jeweled brooch are particularly revealing symbols of wealth and status within the societal norms of the time. Consider the string of pearls: Throughout history, pearls have been associated with purity, wisdom, and even tears. In classical antiquity, they were linked to Aphrodite, goddess of love, born from the sea. We can see its echoes in Botticelli's Venus. Here, the pearl necklace may represent Petronella’s virtue and status. The jewels adorning her dress carry their own weight. Jewelry, in general, has served as a potent symbol of power and identity since antiquity. These precious stones are more than mere adornment; they are a language, speaking volumes about Petronella's place in society. Like a snake shedding its skin, symbols reappear, are re-contextualized, and transformed.