Zittend paar in een interieur 1520 - 1540

This engraving, "Zittend paar in een interieur," was made by Jan Swart van Groningen in the 16th century. Note the scissors in the woman’s hand. Often associated with domesticity and feminine tasks like sewing, here they take on a sharper, more unsettling symbolism. Scissors, or shears, have long been a symbol of fate, of cutting the thread of life. We see this echoed in classical mythology, where the Fates use shears to determine the length of human life. In "The Fates" by Goya, for example, we see a similar emotional charge associated with the use of scissors. The emotional tension in this interior is almost palpable; the woman’s gesture, combined with the presence of the scissors, creates an atmosphere heavy with uncertainty. Such images tap into a deeper collective memory, a shared understanding of life’s fragility and the power of choice, echoing through centuries and artistic expressions.