Portret van Samuel Barovius 1760

Pieter Tanjé's print portrays Samuel Barovius through a complex web of symbols. The bust of a bearded man evokes classical wisdom. Yet, sprouting from his head are not laurel leaves of glory but large donkey ears. This juxtaposition hints at folly and perhaps a critical commentary. The harp beneath the bust brings music, harmony, and divine inspiration to mind. This juxtaposition of images can be found on other artworks in different times and places, such as the Memento Mori paintings with skulls with laurel leaves. The donkey's ears, a symbol since antiquity, is often associated with ignorance and stubbornness, reappearing in folklore and art across cultures. Its evolution shows a blend of mockery and cautionary messages. This symbol triggers a deep-seated emotional reaction, a mix of amusement and subconscious recognition of human fallibility. The visual symbol of donkey's ears, charged with layers of meaning, transcends its immediate context, engaging the viewer in a cyclical play of cultural memory, constantly renewed and reinterpreted.