Arcadisch landschap 1721 - 1759

Michiel Elgersma's etching presents us with an idyllic scene, dominated by classical motifs. The sarcophagus, attended by figures in repose, and the lone hunter recall classical antiquity and its fascination with death and the pastoral life. The sarcophagus is of particular interest. From ancient Rome, where such funerary monuments honored the elite, the sarcophagus motif experienced a rebirth during the Renaissance, symbolizing not just mortality but also a connection to the past. In Elgersma’s time, it evokes a nostalgic yearning for a golden age, and a contemplation of mortality. Think of Poussin’s "Et in Arcadia Ego" – death is present even in Arcadia. The composition subtly echoes classical friezes, reminding us how forms and symbols are reborn, carrying echoes of past anxieties and aspirations. This landscape invites us to consider how our collective memory shapes our present, imbuing even the most serene scenes with a sense of enduring human drama.