Vrijstaand grafmonument met opgebaarde vorst 1557

This engraving by Johannes or Lucas van Doetechum depicts a freestanding tomb with a prince, lying in state, his hands clasped in prayer. The tomb itself is adorned with classical figures, each carrying its symbolic weight. Note the figure of Justitia, easily recognizable by her scales and sword. This motif extends back to ancient Roman depictions of virtue, and we see it echoed in Renaissance art, always a symbol of moral reckoning and the inevitable judgment that awaits. The gesture of clasped hands finds its roots in Christian iconography. It represents piety and submission before God. This echoes across centuries, and becomes something we all subconsciously associate with mourning and reverence. Like the cyclical nature of history itself, symbols reappear, adapt, and continually engage us on a primal, psychological level.