Tafel met spiegel after 1784

This engraving, titled 'Tafel met spiegel'—or 'Table with mirror'—depicts a design for a wall-mounted mirror and console table. Note the floral garland draped across the top of the mirror, a motif that dates back to ancient Roman celebrations, adorning temples and triumphal arches alike. Garlands, symbols of festivity and honor, have long transcended mere decoration. We see them in Renaissance paintings, celebrating earthly and divine unions, and even in funerary art, signifying remembrance and continuity. The garland is an archetypal symbol, resonating with our collective memory of cyclical renewal and celebration. Consider the emotional impact: the garland's gentle curve softens the mirror's rigid lines, inviting a sense of warmth and welcome. This psychological interplay between form and symbol speaks to our innate desire for beauty, order, and emotional connection in the spaces we inhabit. The motif becomes a potent reminder of the cyclical nature of life, echoing across centuries of human experience.