Allegorische voorstelling over de tijd c. 1858

This allegorical print, made by J. J. Hoffmeister, presents a scene dominated by stark contrasts in tone and texture. The somber figure on the left, cloaked and wielding a scythe, immediately draws the eye with its deeply etched lines and heavy shading, evoking a sense of foreboding. The composition balances this darkness with a radiant figure on the right. Light emanates from the angel’s head, creating a visual counterpoint that is enhanced by the smooth, delicate lines of the figure's form. This formal opposition is not merely aesthetic. Hoffmeister introduces a play of light and shadow that serves as a visual metaphor for the interplay between life and death, time and eternity. At the centre, the artist uses the mirroring surface as a structural device to question and destabilize the viewer's perception of reality and illusion. Hoffmeister’s print invites us to consider how symbols of power, history, and the transient nature of life are framed within the boundaries of representation.