Voorwerpen uit de heidense offerdienst 1708 - 1780

Jacob Houbraken created this drawing entitled 'Objects from Pagan Worship' using pen and brown ink in the 18th century. During this period, the Dutch Republic was defined by the rise of the bourgeoisie and a cultural interest in civic virtue. The accumulation of wealth by merchants and traders fueled a fascination with classical antiquity, seen as the foundation of European civilization and a model for moral and political order. Houbraken assembles an array of artifacts reminiscent of pagan rituals, reflecting the era’s perception of pre-Christian cultures as exotic and mysterious. At the same time, the classical references reinforced the cultural dominance of the European elite. The objects are meticulously rendered but presented out of context, their original meanings obscured, and the drawing seems to serve as a reminder of the past's influence on contemporary identity. This drawing can be interpreted as a reflection on cultural identity, the fascination with the past, and the complex ways in which societies construct their self-image through the appropriation and interpretation of historical narratives.