Allegorie op de dood van prinses Louise van Oranje-Nassau, 1819 1819

W. Johnston created this allegory of Princess Louise of Orange-Nassau's death in 1819. Dominating the scene is a grand memorial, adorned with cherubs, a portrait of the princess, and a reclining figure, symbolizing mourning. Such funerary monuments draw from classical antiquity, echoing the tombs of emperors, yet infused with contemporary sentiment. Notice how the cherubs, traditionally symbols of divine love and innocence, flank the princess's likeness. These figures are descendants of Cupid, a motif seen in Pompeian frescoes and Renaissance paintings alike. Their presence here softens the harsh reality of death, suggesting a gentle transition to the afterlife, a motif recurring in various forms throughout history. The emotional power of the scene lies in its stillness, an invitation for reflection on mortality and legacy. Just as ancient Roman sculptures memorialized emperors to shape public memory, this print embodies the non-linear progression of symbols, resurfacing with new meanings to engage viewers on a deep, subconscious level.