Gedenkteken voor Johannes Christiaan Mohr 1787

Theodoor Koning created this print, a memorial to Johannes Christiaan Mohr, where symbols of mourning intertwine with those of enduring affection. At its heart, a classical monument bears a silhouetted profile, a double portrait evoking ancient Roman funerary art, where ancestors were honored through likenesses. Atop this monument sits an urn, a vessel for ashes, and beside it, a winged putto bearing flowers – symbols of death and beauty, sorrow and remembrance. The silhouette as effigy is a motif stretching back to antiquity, finding new life in 18th-century portraiture. Consider the garland, a circle symbolizing eternity, here framing the departed. Its echoes resonate through time, from ancient wreaths of victory to Renaissance depictions of sacred halos. This visual language transcends epochs, carrying layers of collective memory. The image engages us on a subconscious level, tapping into our primal fears of mortality. These visual motifs recur throughout art history, evolving yet retaining their emotional power. The garland’s cyclical form mirrors life’s own cycle, a poignant reminder of both endings and eternal return.