Portret van Erasmus staand onder boog met beeld van Terminus 1536 - 1540

Hans Holbein the Younger made this print of Erasmus standing beneath an arch, featuring a statue of Terminus. This Roman deity, a symbol of boundaries and endings, presides over the great humanist scholar, encapsulating the end of life. The statue of Terminus, a motif rooted in antiquity, has been a recurring presence in art. Over time, it has represented the finality of death and the limits of human knowledge. Here, Terminus takes on a more poignant resonance, as Erasmus was aging, and had his own mortality in mind, as did Holbein. The inclusion of Terminus is no mere allegorical decoration. It speaks to our collective subconscious, reminding us of the inevitable conclusion that awaits us all. The image taps into a deep emotional register, evoking feelings of mortality and the transient nature of human existence. This is a contemplation on the cyclical progression of life, echoing in different forms through the ages.