Vrouw met vleugels 1573 - 1610

This engraving, “Vrouw met vleugels” or "Woman with wings", was created by Christoph Jamnitzer in the late 16th or early 17th century. Observe the winged figure in the center, reminiscent of ancient depictions of Psyche or Eros, beings associated with the soul and desire. She holds aloft what seems to be a streamer, a ribbon, a symbol of connection and perhaps, constraint. This motif of the winged figure, a divine messenger, can be traced back to classical antiquity. The use of wings is a potent symbol, evoking freedom, divinity, and the ability to transcend earthly limitations. This symbol is not static; it evolves. The ancients would have had a very different conception of Psyche, a mortal who attained immortality through love, than the early moderns of Jamnitzer's time. Consider the ornaments that flank her. The subconscious desire to merge beauty with the grotesque may reflect a deeper psychological tension. The figures convey a powerful emotional ambiguity that engages viewers on a primal, subconscious level. This non-linear cyclical progression of symbols resurfaces, evolving and adapting to new meanings in different historical contexts.