Moorse vrouw met zuigeling en aubergine c. 1675 - 1725

This watercolor drawing portrays a Moorish woman with a child, holding an eggplant. The image vibrates with the primal motif of the mother and child, a symbol deeply embedded in our collective consciousness. This pairing echoes through time from ancient Egyptian depictions of Isis and Horus, to the tender Madonnas of the Renaissance. The motif speaks to universal themes of nurturing, protection, and the cyclical nature of life. But here, the eggplant is an attribute worth our attention. Emerging in the 16th century, the fruit was first considered an ornamental plant with no nutritional value. It’s interesting to observe how, in this depiction, the eggplant is a symbol of something unknown. It could represent a new beginning, the mystery of the unknown, or even a subtle reference to fertility and growth. Like a powerful echo, these symbols resonate within us, reminding us of the enduring power of the past and its continued influence on our present.