Schouw met vazen 1784 - 1785

This print by de Saint-Morien depicts a chimneypiece with vases, capturing the neoclassical style that sought to revive the grandeur of antiquity. Note the symmetrical arrangement of floral garlands and urns, motifs echoing back to ancient Roman decorations, symbolizing peace and prosperity. Consider the recurring image of the vase itself: from the amphorae of ancient Greece, used to store wine and oil, to the decorative urns of the Renaissance, adorning gardens and palaces. The vase transforms from functional object to symbolic form, reflecting a human desire for order and beauty, a vessel containing not just material goods but also cultural memory. There is a sense of containment, of controlled emotions perhaps, which speaks to our understanding of the human psyche and our need to find external forms to express inner states. These motifs resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, reflecting our collective memory and emotional landscape.