Vrouw met bontmantel, de handen voor de buik 1630 - 1661

This etching by Israel Henriet depicts a woman in a fur-lined coat, her hands gently resting over her abdomen. Observe her posture, the way she holds herself. This gesture, hands protectively over the womb, echoes across centuries, appearing in ancient fertility figures. We see it again in portraits of expectant mothers during the Renaissance, a universal symbol of nurturing and potential life. The fur trim, a signifier of wealth and status, adds another layer. Think of how animal skins, worn since prehistoric times, have been not just for warmth but as potent symbols of power and virility. Consider, too, how these symbols shift: fur, once associated with primal strength, becomes in this context a symbol of domesticity and the comforts of bourgeois life. The image is an echo, a palimpsest of cultural memory. It reminds us that symbols are never static. They evolve, resurface, and take on new meanings, engaging with our subconscious on a deeply human level.