Zittende oude dame Possibly 1852

David Bles captured this old lady in watercolor and pencil, around 1852. She sits, hands clasped, embodying a quiet stillness. Consider the chair, not just as a prop but as a throne of domesticity. It elevates the sitter, framing her in a posture of matriarchal authority. We can trace echoes of this motif through centuries of portraiture, from royal sittings to bourgeois respectability. The clasped hands, too, tell a story. They suggest a life of prayer, perhaps, or of quiet contemplation. Think of Dürer's "Praying Hands," and how the gesture transcends mere piety, becoming a symbol of hope. It’s an evolution from ancient Roman gestures of peace and submission, isn’t it? The pose evokes the emotional weight of generations and the silent wisdom that accumulates with age. Thus, Bles' study isn't just a portrait; it's a symbol that bridges epochs.