Vrouw als personificatie van Hoop (Fides) met naar boven opgeslagen ogen 1510 - 1527

"Vrouw als personificatie van Hoop (Fides) met naar boven opgeslagen ogen", or, "Woman as the personification of Hope (Fides) with eyes raised upwards," was made by Marcantonio Raimondi in the 16th century. Raimondi lived during a time of immense cultural and religious change, as the Renaissance flourished and the Protestant Reformation challenged the Catholic Church. Here, the figure of Hope is depicted as a classical woman, her gaze directed upwards to the heavens. She is both grounded and ethereal, a complicated tension which reminds us that hope is often most poignant during times of uncertainty. The flowing garments suggest movement, and one may note that the figure’s clothing is falling from her body. Is this an intentional symbol for the vulnerability of hope? Does this choice maintain or develop alternative narratives for the time? Raimondi invites us to consider the dual nature of hope: its strength and its fragility. The figure embodies the emotional complexities inherent in the human condition, especially when faced with social and political upheaval.