Saskia, the Artist's Wife 1643

Rembrandt van Rijn painted this portrait of his wife, Saskia, capturing her in rich attire, adorned with pearls and a feathered hat, symbols of wealth and status in the Dutch Golden Age. The pearls, arranged as necklaces and embellishments, echo through centuries as signs of purity, luxury, and even tears. We see them adorning ancient Greek statues of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, as well as in Renaissance portraits of noblewomen. This visual language conveys the sitter's virtue and affluence, yet they also carry a melancholy undertone, reminiscent of the Freudian concept of condensation, where multiple meanings merge into one symbol. Saskia’s gentle hand gesture, resting at her chest, conveys a sense of intimacy, subtly engaging viewers. The cyclical nature of symbols resurfaces here, the pearls now serving as both a celebration and a poignant reminder of the ephemeral nature of life and beauty.