Portret van Carl Friedrich von Hirschfeld c. 1800 - 1825

This stipple engraving portrays Carl Friedrich von Hirschfeld, made by Friedrich Wilhelm Bollinger. Note how the honorific medals adorning von Hirschfeld are not merely decorative; they speak volumes about his status and service. Consider the cross, a symbol that predates Christianity, representing connections between the earthly and divine. Here, it signifies sacrifice and duty within a military context. Similarly, the star motif, often linked to enlightenment or destiny, may allude to von Hirschfeld's enlightened leadership. These symbols are visual echoes that resonate across epochs. The star, for instance, appears in ancient Mesopotamian art as a divine attribute and reappears during the Renaissance, adorning royal figures. Each era imbues it with evolving meanings, yet its core association with higher powers persists, embedded in our collective memory. The emotional weight of these symbols lies in their ability to evoke ancestral memories, stirring feelings of reverence, respect, and awe. Their cyclical return reminds us that history is never truly linear.