Jonge vrouw met lier in de handen 1846 - 1863

This print by Hendrik Adriaan Christiaan Dekker depicts a young woman holding a lyre. In classical antiquity, the lyre was the instrument of Apollo, god of music, poetry, and light, and was often associated with harmony, balance, and intellectual pursuits. Here, the woman’s downward gaze and melancholic stance, juxtaposed with the lyre, complicates its traditional symbolism. The figure is reminiscent of depictions of muses or mythical figures from earlier Renaissance paintings. The lyre, in this context, seems to suggest a deeper, perhaps subconscious, connection to the past. The image taps into a collective memory, evoking a sense of longing. The act of playing the lyre becomes not just a musical performance, but a symbolic gesture connecting her to cultural memory. Her posture conveys a potent emotional state, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. As we observe this image, we are reminded that symbols resurface and evolve in different contexts.