Portret van Johann Frischmuth op 69-jarige leeftijd 1688 - 1689

This is a portrait of Johann Frischmuth at the age of 69, etched by Elias Hainzelmann in the 17th century. The swirling foliage around Frischmuth's likeness evokes a sense of vitality and honor. Consider how similar vegetal motifs are used on ancient Roman tombs. The flowing acanthus leaves, symbols of rebirth and eternal life, mirror those seen in antiquity. This is not merely decoration but a calculated connection to the past, a visual echo across centuries. The use of leaves in both contexts taps into our collective consciousness about loss, memory, and the cyclical nature of life. Note the inscription below the portrait, reminiscent of epitaphs. Such symbols are vessels of cultural memory, constantly resurrected and reinterpreted, their essence enduring through time.