Fortunati, een Italiaans model 

Thérèse Schwartze rendered "Fortunati, een Italiaans model" in charcoal, capturing a study of a woman in thoughtful repose. Her gaze is directed downwards in melancholic introspection, an age-old symbol that transcends epochs. Consider the classical sculpture of the goddess Diana, often depicted with a lowered gaze signifying chastity and reflection. Echoes of this gesture resonate through medieval depictions of the Virgin Mary in Annunciation scenes, embodying humility and contemplation. This symbolic posture reappears in Romantic paintings to reflect the emotional intensity of the subject. The motif of averted eyes carries a psychological weight, suggesting an inner world of introspection and emotional depth. The sitter embodies vulnerability as her downcast eyes engage viewers on a profound, subconscious level. Thus, Schwartze taps into the wellspring of cultural memory, reminding us of how symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings.