Illuminatie van het huis van H. Kloete te Rotterdam, 1788 1788 - 1789

This print, made in 1788 by an anonymous artist, commemorates the illumination of H. Kloete’s house in Rotterdam. At its apex, the radiant starburst, an emblem of enlightenment, casts light upon the scene. Notice the central obelisk, adorned with garlands and topped with a radiant sun. This shape recalls the Egyptian pyramids, a motif the Western world reinterpreted as a symbol of wisdom. Here, the geometric clarity evokes enlightenment ideals, framing the initials 'FW,' likely those of a royal figure. The garlands, borrowed from classical antiquity, often appear in Roman triumphal arches; they symbolize celebration. But consider how their lightness contrasts with the rigid form of the obelisk. These symbols, sunlight, garlands, and idealized initials, create a complex interplay. It is a dance between the rational ideals of the Enlightenment and our very human need for celebration and connection. The image calls to mind the eternal recurrence of symbols and their persistent power to move us across time.