Ceres c. 1717 - 1718

Jean-Antoine Watteau painted this oil on canvas depicting Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, harvest, and fertility. She is adorned with a crown of wheat and flowers, holding a sickle, symbols that tie her to the earth’s bounty and the cycle of seasons. The sickle, held aloft, is not merely a tool but a potent emblem. In ancient Greece, a similar curved blade was wielded by Cronus to castrate his father, Uranus, marking a cosmic shift. Watteau softens this violent past, transforming the sickle into an instrument of nurturing, symbolizing the harvest and the gifts of the earth. The image, evoking subconscious memories of ancient myth, is deeply engaging. Thus, the symbol of the sickle transforms across millennia, from a symbol of primal conflict to an emblem of nature's generosity. It embodies the cyclical progression of symbols, resurfacing, evolving, and assuming fresh significance across diverse epochs.