The vase

Formally speaking the vase on the left side of the painting connects the landscape with the interior. It stands on the windowsill which gives us a view of the landscape, its upper rim firmly anchored on the bank of the river. But there’s much more to it than that.

The curved form of the vase is an ancient symbol of femininity, recalling the roundness of the female hips. In a psychoanalytical context there are further parallels: interpreted as a vagina or uterus, the vase must be filled with water and flowers to fulfil its purpose. It relates to everything concerning the mother archetype and principle of Eros: vitality, fertility, ampleness, beauty and sexuality.