Jonge vrouw met hoorn des overvloeds 1511 - 1520

Marcantonio Raimondi created this engraving, now held at the Rijksmuseum, depicting a young woman holding a cornucopia. This symbol, overflowing with fruits and flowers, speaks to the ancient concept of abundance and prosperity, deeply rooted in classical mythology where it was associated with deities like Fortuna. Notice how the horn itself morphs across cultures, sometimes appearing as an animal horn, other times as a basket. We see echoes of this motif in medieval depictions of the Garden of Eden, and even in modern advertising where the cornucopia suggests economic success. The enduring appeal of the cornucopia lies, perhaps, in its power to evoke a primal desire for plenty, a collective memory of times when sustenance was precarious. It is a powerful reminder of our hopes and fears related to the natural world.