Gild- of kermis-os 1761 - 1804

This print, "Gild- of kermis-os," was created by Erven de Weduwe Jacobus van Egmont. It depicts an ox garlanded with flowers, a visual emphasizing the animal’s imminent sacrifice. This image echoes the ancient practice of adorning sacrificial animals, a tradition stretching back to Minoan Crete. We find parallels in the Roman Suovetaurilia, where animals were similarly decorated before ritual slaughter. This motif of sacrificial adornment speaks to a deep-seated human impulse: to imbue the act of killing with beauty. The flowers, symbols of fragility and transience, starkly contrast with the ox’s robust form, creating a poignant tension. In the collective memory, this juxtaposition elicits a complex emotional response—acknowledging both the beauty of life and the inevitability of death. Such imagery taps into our subconscious awareness of mortality, a powerful force that continues to resonate across centuries and cultures. This symbol—the adorned sacrifice—reappears throughout history. It evolves, yet retains its core, embodying the eternal cycle of life, death, and renewal.