Christine Rebekka Eckersberg, f. Hyssing, kunstnerens første hustru 1809

Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg painted this intimate portrait of his first wife, Christine Rebekka, capturing her serene gaze and the fashion of her time. Notice the curl on her forehead, a small detail, yet it echoes the crescent moon. The moon, a symbol of femininity and cyclical change, has been revered since ancient times, from the lunar goddesses of antiquity to its role in marking time itself. In Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus,” the goddess emerges from the sea, often associated with the moon’s reflective light and transformative power, embodying beauty and renewal. Christine’s curl, like the moon, frames her face, evoking these ancient connections, reflecting a subtle yet powerful emotional presence. It is a poignant reminder of how symbols persist, subtly shaping our understanding of beauty and the passage of time, echoing through centuries of art and culture.