Standing Women c. 17th century

Editor: This piece, "Standing Women," is an anonymous print from the Harvard Art Museums collection. Her basket and attire make me wonder about her role. What symbols jump out to you? Curator: The basket is key. It represents not just the tangible contents she carries, but also broader ideas of provision, sustenance, and even societal expectation. How might her clothing speak to that as well? Editor: It seems rather simple, perhaps indicating a lower social standing? Curator: Precisely! The anonymity and the simple garments suggest this image might represent Everywoman, a figure laden with the symbolic weight of labor and daily life, speaking to collective experience rather than individual identity. Editor: That's really fascinating! It shifts my perspective completely. Curator: Visual symbols often create that effect, carrying cultural memory. What do you carry forward?