Weaving with Athena

The illustration depicted on the advertising banner consists of two parts. The left emblem most likely depicts the Greco-Roman goddess Athena behind a loom. In Ovid's Metamorphoses, amongst others, the legend tells that Arachne could spin and weave sublimely, since she had been taught to do so by the goddess Athena in person. Arachne herself denied that she had been taught by Athena, prompting Athena to teach her a lesson in humility. Athena disguised herself as an old lady who tried to persuade Arachne to ask the goddess Athena to forgive her pride. Again Arachne would not listen. Athena showed herself in her true form and challenged Arachne to a weaving contest. Arachne won the contest, which her former tutor could not bear. Athena tore Arachne's fabric to shreds. Fearing the wrath and punishment of Athena, Arachne hanged himself. Athena then took pity on her former student. She brought Arachne back to life but turned her into a spider. Arachne would be hanging by a thread all her life from then on, but she would always be able to perform her weaving skills.

Returning to the emblem on the advertising canvas, the question can be asked why the goddess Athena is explicitly depicted behind the loom. From an art history point of view, Arachne is usually depicted behind the loom with a furious Athena nearby (fig. 22). That the depicted image is probably the goddess of war, art and wisdom herself, is visible through her attributes, which consist of a helmet and armor with an object behind her that is reminiscent of a round shield. A possible interpretation for the choice of this iconography is that Athena is portrayed as a teacher and expert, just as De Leidsche Katoenmaatschappij has presented itself as an expert in the field since 1756. This is also emphasized in the saying surrounding the emblem. The industry depicted in the illustration is provided with the following saying: Dat Konst-fabrieken weer in volle luister staan, En dus met Neering en Hanteering t’zamen gaan. Translated into contemporary Dutch, this means: 'When the art factories are able to produce at full capacity, then money and labor will run together'.

The choice for the antique representation of this craft probably indicates the long history of the art of weaving. The cherubs, the child-like angels, are also a reference to people’s image of Antiquity in the Renaissance.