Vrouw tekenend in een venster 1825 - 1827

Johannes de Mare created this artwork, "Vrouw tekenend in een venster," using etching. Here, we see a woman drawing, seemingly inspired by classical sculptures. A statue of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, stands to her left, and cherubic figures adorn the base below, evoking themes of love and classical antiquity. The man holding a skull reminds us of our mortality. Consider the image of Venus, derived from ancient Greek ideals, reappearing here. We may recall the Venus Pudica gesture—her hand modestly covering her body—a motif that has echoed through art history, from ancient sculptures to Renaissance paintings, each time subtly shifting in meaning. The artwork’s emotional power lies in its tension between ideal beauty and mortal reality, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. These symbols are not static; they evolve, resurface, and take on new meanings across different eras.