Ceres en Fortuna 1731 - 1775

This black chalk drawing of 'Ceres en Fortuna' can be found at the Rijksmuseum. Though we don't know who created it, the drawing invites us to consider how social constructs are created through visual language. On the left, we see Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, grain crops, fertility and motherly relationships. On the right, Fortuna, the goddess of fortune, chance and fate. Both goddesses are depicted as busts, emerging out of swirling foliage that frames an oval space. Together, these images reflect how the feminine is often caught in a binary between productivity and chance. With delicate lines, the artist captures two aspects of womanhood. Consider how these representations reflect or challenge the role of women in society. It asks us to consider how we shape, and are shaped by, the cultural narratives that surround us.