Portret van Johann Christian Anton Theden 1769 - 1797

This print portrays Johann Christian Anton Theden, rendered by Eberhard Siegfried Henne. The portrait is framed within an oval, positioned atop a stone plinth adorned with laurel branches, symbols of triumph and eternal life. The laurel, deeply rooted in antiquity, was bestowed upon victors and poets, seen as a potent emblem of honor. Even in modern times, we see its remnants in academic heraldry. What began as the stuff of gods became symbols of human merit. The oval, suggestive of the cosmic egg, echoes through art history, from Renaissance portraiture to modern abstraction, symbolizing creation and the cyclical nature of time. These symbols persist, shaped by subconscious forces, their meanings evolving across time and cultures, yet retaining a primal connection to our shared human experience. A testament to the endurance of symbols, their power lies in their capacity to engage us on a profound, subconscious level.