De lakenfabricage: een weefgetouw en enkele losse onderdelen 1672 - 1747

Willem van Mieris created this drawing of a loom with pen in grey and brown ink around the 17th or 18th century. The loom, a skeletal framework, stands as a silent monument to human industry and ingenuity. Consider the shuttle, that pointed instrument carrying the weft thread across the warp, creating the fabric of society itself. In ancient mythologies, the act of weaving is often associated with fate and destiny, think of the Greek Fates spinning the threads of life. This connection transcends mere functionality. The rhythmic motion of the shuttle, back and forth, mirrors the cyclical nature of time and existence. Just as Arachne challenged Athena in the art of weaving, so too does humanity challenge the gods in its creative endeavors. Through this simple tool, we see not just a means of production, but a powerful symbol of human agency and our eternal quest to shape the world around us.