Sculptuur van Rebecca met een waterkruik door Johannes Takanen before 1879

This is a photograph of "Sculpture of Rebecca with a Water Jug" by Johannes Takanen. The photograph captures a sculpture of Rebecca, draped in fabric, holding a water jug. The neutral tone allows for a focus on the form and subtle gradations of light and shadow. Takanen's work uses classical sculpture's visual language, yet the soft focus of the photograph blurs the boundaries between the ideal and the real. The sculpture’s composition—the figure's gentle contrapposto, the flowing drapery, and the jug—establishes a set of signs that communicate a story of modesty and service. The way the artist uses the interplay of line, mass, and texture prompts a reading of the sculpture as a sign, encoding cultural values. In this context, Takanen's sculpture transcends mere representation, engaging in a cultural and philosophical discourse about identity and representation.