Portret van Eugène Simonis 1838

This is Charles Baugniet’s portrait of Eugène Simonis, made with lithography in the 19th century. It features Simonis draped in a voluminous cloak, standing beside a classical column topped with an urn. The urn, a motif echoing back to ancient Greece, symbolizes mourning and remembrance, and its presence lends a solemn dignity to the portrait. This same symbol appears on funerary monuments across Europe and beyond. It has been passed down through generations, becoming intertwined with rituals of grief and commemoration. The gesture of holding the cloak, subtly drawing it together, recalls similar poses of Roman senators and philosophers, conveying a sense of thoughtfulness and control. This kind of symbol serves as a visual bridge connecting Simonis to the past and inviting us to consider the emotional depths beneath the surface of this image. By looking at such symbols, we see how motifs resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.