Madame Robin, met een bril op en een kanten muts 1790 - 1852

Pieter Christoffel Wonder sketched Madame Robin, likely in the early 19th century, using graphite. The eyeglasses perched upon Madame Robin’s nose are an emblem, not merely of improved sight, but of intellect and the march of progress during the Enlightenment. The glasses lead me to ponder how such objects, once rare, have evolved from symbols of learned elites to everyday tools. Recall the medieval scholars depicted squinting over manuscripts, their knowledge a closely guarded secret. Now, glasses are commonplace, democratizing access to knowledge. Yet, even in this progress, one senses a cyclical return. The gaze, aided by lenses, transcends mere vision, becoming an act of scrutiny and insight. Just as ancient seers used crystals to pierce the veil, we now use lenses to focus our minds. This is a potent, almost spiritual act that engages our collective memory of seeking knowledge.