Illustration til Johannes Ewald "Lykkens Tempel" 1779 - 1780

J.F. Clemens created this illustration for Johannes Ewald's "Lykkens Tempel" using engraving techniques. The artwork presents a theatrical procession leading up a ziggurat towards a classical temple. Notice how Clemens uses line and hatching to define forms and textures, creating a contrast between the dense crowd and the open sky. The procession ascends in clearly defined steps, suggesting a structured societal hierarchy. The figures’ exaggerated costumes and gestures add a layer of artifice, as if they are performing roles within a grand spectacle. Consider the influence of Enlightenment ideals on Clemens's work, particularly the emphasis on reason and order. The temple, a symbol of classical virtue, sits atop the constructed landscape, suggesting the aspiration towards an ideal society. Yet, the rigidity of the composition, the uniform march of the crowd, invites questions about social control and individual expression. The formal structure underscores a tension between aspiration and constraint, prompting us to reflect on the constructed nature of social ideals.