Twee Romeinse altaren, pl. V 1843 - 1845

Editor: This print, titled 'Two Roman Altars, Plate V', created between 1843 and 1845 by Tiemen Hooiberg, showcases engravings of ancient Roman altar reliefs. They look quite weathered; what really jumps out at you in this image? Curator: What leaps to my mind, looking at these captured moments from antiquity, is how they speak to our own impermanence. Aren't they wonderful? Each crack and inscription tells a story, hinting at lives, beliefs, and rituals lost to time. I also notice how Hooiberg meticulously captures each form through drawing and engraving; what details stood out to you, specifically? Editor: I was particularly drawn to the variation in the reliefs, the poses. One shows what looks like a god figure; another includes text... Curator: Yes, precisely! Some are votive offerings, others commemorative, all speaking in their silent way, even across the chasm of time. Can you imagine what their creators were thinking and feeling? Consider the artistry and effort it must have taken, not just to create these altars but for Hooiberg to meticulously recreate them in print so many years later. A study of dedication across decades, perhaps even centuries! It feels almost like a whispered conversation, doesn't it? What's been passed down? Editor: It is amazing to think of those layers. Hooiberg saw and chose to record, and now we are also seeing and thinking... I'm now pondering how the choice to create them as prints rather than drawings impacts how we perceive these altar designs. Curator: Yes, it's as if Hooiberg created another copy, or, as artists will often do, created his own personal perspective of history. It definitely encourages a wider viewership! Now, because you spent some time with this art, what have you noticed about yourself? What’s left resonating? Editor: It makes me reflect on how civilizations build upon previous ones and the things we choose to preserve and remember. Curator: Beautifully said! Now let us seek new moments to echo through ourselves, for maybe someone down the line will also be fascinated!