Titelpagina voor: Carolina Pichler, Verhalen, 1816 1816

This is the title page, etched by Johannes Christiaan Bendorp around 1816, for Carolina Pichler’s ‘Verhalen.’ Notice the family group in the foreground. The figures of a man, woman, and child immediately evoke the archetypal image of the Holy Family. This image powerfully engages viewers on a deep, subconscious level, representing universal themes of love and protection. The club held by the man and the slain animal at his feet point to the triumph over the natural world. This motif has resurfaced repeatedly throughout history, evolving and taking on new meanings. The club, reminiscent of Hercules' weapon, symbolizes strength but also, perhaps, the human battle against primal instincts. It echoes through centuries of art, symbolizing not only physical power but also the psychological struggle to master our base impulses. The cyclical progression of this symbol is evident as it is recontextualized through history, bearing both conscious and unconscious cultural meanings.