L. Holbergs sarkofag i Sorø kirke 1783 - 1784

J.F. Clemens created this print of L. Holberg's sarcophagus in Sorø Church. As an artist working in the late 18th and early 19th century, Clemens navigated a world of shifting artistic styles, from the late Baroque to the rise of Neoclassicism. This print captures the Neoclassical aesthetic, evident in its symmetrical composition and the use of classical motifs, which were favored by European elites. Holberg, a playwright and intellectual, lived in a society marked by rigid class structures, where patronage and reputation were crucial for success. The print shows two female figures on either side of the sarcophagus, with the figure on the left holding a theater mask. These figures act as allegories to the different parts of Holberg's identity. Consider how the image itself functions as a piece of cultural preservation. It invites us to reflect on the way society remembers and honors its luminaries, and to recognize the artistic and intellectual currents that shaped their legacies. It asks us to consider how power and representation intersect in the creation of cultural memory.