Portret van Johanna Cornelia Ziesenis-Wattier met wit marmeren sokkel c. 1820

This is a portrait of Johanna Cornelia Ziesenis-Wattier made of white marble, by Paulus Joseph Gabriël. The bust presents us with a study in contrasts, between the smooth expanses of skin and the intricate detail of the hair and head adornment. Consider the way the light plays across the polished surface, accentuating the curves of the face and the crisp edges of the drapery. The cool, white marble lends a sense of classical austerity and timelessness, yet the soft, almost playful curls introduce a dynamic, ephemeral quality. Gabriël’s choice of marble is not merely aesthetic; it’s a deliberate invocation of historical and cultural values. Marble, traditionally associated with antiquity and high art, elevates the sitter, imbuing her with a sense of enduring significance. The artist uses a semiotic system, in which the marble, the coiffure, and the very act of portraiture, speak to the sitter’s status and the values of her time. The sculpture invites us to question fixed meanings and to consider how it challenges or reinforces prevailing notions of beauty, identity, and representation.