Stillevens met schalen en etenswaren in een nis c. 1863 - 1864

This is Maria Vos's sketch of food in niches. The niche, a recess in the wall, functions as a display, but also protection. Think of the Madonna sheltered in her alcove, a theme which harkens back to the Roman goddess of household plenty, safely tucked away in the Lararium. Here, however, we have mundane victuals, various vessels and food. Consider the symbolic weight of containing food within a niche. By the Renaissance, the niche had become a common feature in domestic interiors, a stage to present one’s wealth through collected objects. Vos presents a more humble picture, one of a well-stocked larder as a promise of plenty. This visual language around displaying of food has evolved through history. I find that the subconscious desire for security continues to fuel this symbolic motif, resurfacing even in our modern, abundant times.