Standbeelden der toekomst 1886

Jan Holswilder created this print titled "Statues of the Future," in 1886, using some sort of printmaking technique. Here, allegorical figures and contemporary cultural symbols are intertwined, reflecting the anxieties and aspirations of the time. Notice the figure holding a lantern. This symbol of enlightenment, often seen in allegories of truth and knowledge, goes back to antiquity. Yet here, it appears jester-like, perhaps suggesting a distorted or obscured vision of the future. We see echoes of this motif in other eras, such as the Renaissance depictions of "Caritas" holding a flame, to the many "light bringer" figures in Romantic paintings. Yet Holswilder's print twists this traditional symbol, imbuing it with a sense of uncertainty and irony. This reflects how symbols and archetypes constantly evolve, influenced by collective hopes and fears. The emotional impact of this piece lies in its unsettling blend of the familiar and the strange, prompting us to question what progress truly means.