Zwei stehende Schweizer Bäuerinnen, von vorne gesehen c. 1771 - 1772

Georg Melchior Kraus rendered these two Swiss peasant women in delicate watercolors. Observe the woman on the right; she carries a pot, reminiscent of ancient Greek amphorae, vessels used for transporting wine and oil. Throughout art history, carrying vessels are symbols of provision and sustenance, echoing back to images of harvest goddesses from antiquity. Think of Demeter, often depicted with a cornucopia. Kraus's woman carries a simple pot, yet it connects her to a lineage of women who nourish and sustain. Consider how such a motif evolves, its form changing with time, but its underlying meaning enduring— a potent reminder of humanity's deep-seated connection to nourishment, sustenance, and the cyclical rhythms of nature.