Romeinse en Griekse veldheer gelauwerd 1722

Jacob Folkema created this print, "Roman and Greek Commander Crowned with Laurels", in 1722. The print emerges from a period defined by the Enlightenment's renewed interest in classical antiquity, where ancient Greece and Rome were idealized as cradles of democracy and culture. Here, Folkema presents us with a vision of leadership steeped in the visual language of power. Flanked by classical architecture and crowned by allegorical figures of victory, the commanders stand as paragons of virtue and authority. Yet, these images also prompt reflection on the politics of representation. Who gets remembered as a hero, and whose stories are erased in the march of history? Consider how the print's clean lines and idealized forms reinforce notions of order and control, mirroring the socio-political hierarchies of Folkema's time. This image, while celebrating military achievement, asks us to critically examine the values and power structures it upholds, stirring a dialogue between the past and the present.