Zinnebeeldige erezuil met standbeeld voor de Amsterdamse burgemeester E. de Vrij Temminck 1781

Cornelis Bogerts created this print of an allegorical honor column with a statue for the Amsterdam mayor E. de Vrij Temminck. The linear precision of the engraving brings into focus the detailed composition, where symmetry and symbolism converge. The print presents a formal arrangement of figures and architectural elements, sharply rendered, that are constructed to convey power and civic virtue. At the top is the figure of the mayor, standing above an overthrown figure, and at the base are reclining figures with symbolic objects, placed either side of heraldic shields. The rigid verticality of the column is softened by the dynamic poses of the surrounding allegorical figures. The visual language employed here draws from classical antiquity, yet it’s reconfigured within the context of 18th-century Dutch society. These figures, objects, and spatial relations construct meaning, engaging viewers in a dialogue about the values and ideals of governance. The detailed lines and structured composition serve not only an aesthetic function but also convey complex socio-political narratives.