Fotoreproductie van een stempel naar een grafsteen van Guillaume IV d’Auvillars in de Abdij van Bec before 1861

This is an anonymous reproduction of a stamp of Guillaume IV d’Auvillars’ gravestone at the Abbey of Bec. It offers us a glimpse into the cultural conventions surrounding death and remembrance in the medieval period. The original gravestone, now lost to us, would have been a powerful symbol of status and spiritual authority, reflecting Guillaume’s position within the ecclesiastical hierarchy. As an Abbot, Guillaume held considerable power, both religious and secular, and this is expressed through the solemn, idealized representation of him on his tomb. The reproduction also speaks to the enduring human need to preserve and commemorate, albeit now at a remove. It invites reflection on the passage of time, and on the fragile, transient nature of human existence.