Figurine c. 18th century

This charming figurine presents a young woman, likely crafted in the 18th century. She is adorned with symbols of pastoral simplicity: a flower-filled basket, a wide-brimmed hat, and bare feet upon the earth. The basket of flowers is not merely decorative; it represents an offering, a token of beauty and fertility drawn from nature. Recall Botticelli's Primavera, where Flora scatters blossoms, symbolizing renewal and the cyclical nature of life. Here, the flowers are contained, civilized, reflecting a controlled expression of natural abundance. Her bare feet, in direct contact with the ground, evoke an ancient connection to the earth, a primal state of being. We see echoes of this motif in depictions of nymphs and goddesses across classical art, where the unadorned foot signifies purity and a return to nature's source. This connection resonates subconsciously, stirring a longing for a simpler existence. Ultimately, this figurine embodies a persistent human desire: to reconcile the cultivated and the wild, and to find harmony between ourselves and the natural world.