Hoofd van Laocoön 1672 - 1711

Augustinus Terwesten created this print of the head of Laocoön. Although undated, its creation was likely influenced by Terwesten’s position as court painter in Berlin in the late 17th century. During this period, classical antiquity was being revived, influencing art and aesthetics. Artists looked back to ancient Greece and Rome, seeking to emulate what were considered the highest forms of artistic expression. This print of Laocoön exemplifies this fascination, representing not just a mythological figure but an ideal of male beauty and suffering. The story of Laocoön is a tragic one. He was a Trojan priest who warned against bringing the Trojan Horse into the city, and he and his sons were subsequently attacked by sea serpents. Here, we are confronted with a moment of intense agony. The work resonates beyond its classical origins. It invites reflections on pain, warning, and the consequences of dissent.