Vrouw met kruisboog, een boottocht en Malling Abbey 1858

Gerrit Postma created this pencil drawing, showing a woman with a crossbow, a boat ride, and Malling Abbey. The crossbow wielded by the woman in the upper-left corner of the drawing is a compelling symbol of power, skill, and perhaps even protection. Crossbows often appear in art associated with the hunt. However, the image of a woman holding a crossbow triggers something deeper, something primal and instinctual. In some ways it mirrors Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt. The crossbow, a symbol of precision and intent, links her to a lineage of powerful female figures throughout art history. Over time, this image of a woman armed has evolved, resurfacing in various forms. From medieval heroines to modern-day characters, the armed woman embodies not just physical strength but also resilience, independence, and an unyielding spirit. The symbols present in this drawing—woman, crossbow, boat—invite us to explore the depths of collective memory and the ways in which these images continue to engage our imaginations.