Vier landschappen met figuren c. 1650

Gesina ter Borch created these four landscapes with figures using pen in the seventeenth century. The scenes are filled with common folk and, as in other works of art from the same period, we see the symbol of the basket. These baskets, carried by women and men, are a reminder of an ancient vessel, the ‘cista mystica,’ the sacred basket used in Greek and Roman mystery religions, often associated with fertility rituals. It is an archetype of containment and potential, carrying not just physical goods, but also symbolic promise. The basket in the drawing echoes similar motifs found in ancient Minoan frescoes, where figures carry offerings in woven containers. These are also connected to the cornucopia symbol, the horn of plenty, that transcends time and geography and resurfaces in the most unexpected places, its essence changing with culture, yet its core message of hope and sustenance enduring. The humble basket in Ter Borch’s drawing, therefore, is not just a container, but an emotional signpost, evoking an innate desire for provision and well-being.