Kalebasperen 1920 - 1924

This is Jac van Looij's drawing of hanging bottle gourds, made with chalk and graphite. The fruit hangs heavy, almost burdened, a common motif in art history. Consider how the symbolism of fruit—often associated with fertility, abundance, and temptation—has evolved. Think of the apples in Renaissance paintings, symbols of original sin, or the luscious fruits in Baroque still lifes, emblems of earthly pleasures. Here, however, the gourds present a muted, almost melancholy tone. The way they are suspended and slightly withered suggests a reflection on the transience of life. The composition evokes a deep, subconscious resonance. The gourds, hanging heavy, carry a psychological weight, engaging our deepest emotions. As we confront these images, we see a non-linear, cyclical progression of symbols that resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in differing historical contexts.