Ontwerp voor omslag muziekblad Pauvre pierreuse met lopende vrouw en man 1893

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec designed this cover for the sheet music "Pauvre Pierreuse" using lithography. The central figure, a woman with her hand extended, presents an age-old motif: the offering. Consider how the open hand, palm up, appears across cultures and centuries. It can be seen in ancient Roman art as a symbol of power, of conquest, but also in Christian art, where the Virgin Mary is depicted with an open palm as a sign of protection. Here, it evokes not divinity or strength but desperation, and a plea for connection or assistance. This transformation in meaning is a powerful reminder of art's ability to channel universal emotions through evolving cultural lenses. It is almost a collective memory. The gesture resonates deeply, tapping into our shared understanding of vulnerability and the human need for support.