Vrouw met parasol, man met korte pijp en een rattengifverkoper 1858

This sketch, rendered by Gerrit Postma, presents us with three distinct figures, each carrying their own symbolic weight. Notice the parasol held by the woman on the left. This is not merely protection from the sun; it's a subtle emblem of status, a delicate barrier between her and the crude realities of the world. The parasol echoes the classical motif of the baldachin, a canopy often depicted above rulers and saints, signifying power and divine protection. Yet, here, its meaning is somewhat diluted, democratized. It's a whisper of privilege rather than a declaration. Consider the 'Mort aux Rats,' the rat poison vendor. Death is part of life. The 'Mort aux Rats' seller, with his wares, embodies the constant battle against unseen threats. We see echoes of this figure in earlier depictions of the plague doctor, a grim reminder of mortality. These symbols resurface, shaped by the anxieties of their time, and continue to resonate with our deepest fears.