Portret van H. Liede 1792

Heinrich Sintzenich created this engraving of H. Liede, capturing the likeness of the sitter within an oval frame. The frame motif, ubiquitous across eras, is not merely a border. Think of the 'imago clipeata' of ancient Rome, where portraits were set in shields, emblems of honor and protection. Our collective memory associates the frame with preservation, encasing a moment in time and shielding it from oblivion. Similarly, consider the ovals and circles used in Renaissance portraiture to give sitters the same eternal quality. The frame, therefore, becomes a potent symbol—a visual device that speaks to our deepest desires for permanence. The frame ensures that H. Liede continues to speak to us across time, a testament to the cyclical and enduring power of symbols in art.