verso: Design for an urn; recto: Designs for two urns 19th century

This drawing presents designs for urns, rendered with graphite. The urn, a vessel, carries profound symbolism dating back to antiquity, often associated with funerary rites. The design includes handles, a decorative element that can be traced back to ancient Greek amphorae, and festoons with circular decorations on the base. This symbol of commemoration appears in varying forms, and we see its recurring presence in many cultures. The imagery of containing and preserving links the vessel to themes of memory and the afterlife. Much like the gestures of lamentation, the urn is one of many powerful formulas charged with cultural memory. Consider its psychological resonance: the urn elicits introspection on mortality and remembrance, engaging us on a subconscious level. The cyclical nature of this symbol's evolution highlights how humans express their deepest emotions, continuously reshaping our understanding of life and death.