Twee vrouwenhoofden 1620 - 1664

This delicate drawing, whose author is unknown, presents two studies of women’s heads, rendered with fine lines. Consider the head on the left: the elaborate hairstyle, a coiled braid, immediately evokes classical antiquity. This arrangement, reminiscent of ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, embodies notions of order and civilization. But the way in which it's depicted also stirs something deeper, a longing for a serene past, a 'golden age'. This yearning echoes across centuries; similar hairstyles appear in Renaissance paintings, each time carrying a cultural memory of antiquity. The emotional power of such visual symbols lies in their ability to tap into a collective subconscious, linking us to past cultures through shared aesthetic ideals. This classical image resurfaces time and again, an echo of history constantly being reinterpreted.