Zelfportret, leunend op tafel, met het beeldje 'Ariadne auf dem Panther' c. 1852

This is a self-portrait by Eduard Isaac Asser. Here he is, leaning contemplatively on a table with the sculpture ‘Ariadne auf dem Panther’. The figure of Ariadne, abandoned by Theseus, then rescued and wedded to Dionysus, speaks to themes of abandonment, rescue, and transformation. We see it echoed in the many versions of the myth, from ancient Greek pottery to Renaissance paintings, each reflecting a unique cultural and psychological perspective. Consider, for instance, Titian's "Bacchus and Ariadne." There, the raw emotion of divine intervention captures a moment of profound psychological impact. The image of the sculpture in this portrait embodies a sense of deep, subconscious recognition. The recurrence of the Ariadne motif is not just a retelling of a story, but a powerful cultural and emotional symbol, constantly resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings across time.