Portret van een staande vrouw met boek 1860 - 1900

This portrait by R. Griffiths captures a standing woman with a book. The book, a powerful symbol of knowledge and contemplation, hints at the woman's intellectual interests and her connection to the world of learning, a common aspiration in a rapidly changing society. The book as a symbol has ancient roots, from the scrolls of antiquity to the illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages. It evolves across time and culture, representing not just information but also status and spiritual enlightenment. Think of the philosophers in classical paintings, holding scrolls as emblems of wisdom, or the Bible in religious art, signifying divine knowledge. The presence of the book in this portrait, therefore, is not merely incidental. It’s a conscious declaration, reflecting a desire for self-improvement and engagement with broader cultural currents. It echoes a timeless human quest for understanding, constantly reshaped by the shifting sands of history.