Staande en zittende vrouw met rookvat 1752 - 1782

This print of a design for a chimney piece was conceived in the 18th century by Juste Nathan Boucher. We see a caryatid holding a wreath and a basket of foliage on her head, supporting a decorative structure that includes kneeling figures and a medallion. The kneeling figures, mirroring each other, evoke the ancient Greek korai, votive statues dedicated to goddesses. These figures, symbols of feminine virtue and grace, can be seen as far back as ancient Egypt. Here, they flank a vessel, once used for offerings and libations. The caryatid figure is derived from classical antiquity; the basket of foliage on her head recalls images of harvest and bounty. These classical motifs experienced a resurgence during the Renaissance. We can see how such symbols, imbued with cultural memory, are revived and reinterpreted, constantly echoing through time. The enduring nature of these images, from antiquity to the 18th century, speaks to our collective, subconscious fascination with the aesthetics of the ancient world.