Monument voor generaal Pichegru, 1795 1795

This is Jacobus Wijsman's "Monument voor generaal Pichegru", made in 1795, a piece brimming with symbols of its revolutionary age. The central figure, a classical statue of Liberty, stands blindfolded, holding a spear—a direct echo of Roman virtue and republican ideals, meant to suggest impartiality. Note how this iconography is not unique to this moment; Liberty figures have appeared in various guises through history, from ancient goddesses to allegorical representations in Renaissance art. Yet, here, she's specifically tied to the ideals of the French Revolution, repurposed to embody Enlightenment values. Above, cherubs float around a portrait of General Pichegru, one bearing a laurel wreath. This, too, is a calculated invocation of the classical world, signaling triumph and honor. Such motifs tap into a deep, collective memory, stirring subconscious associations with power, heroism, and the cyclical nature of history. Observe how these symbols engage us emotionally, drawing on our inherited understanding of glory and sacrifice. The past is never truly gone; it resurfaces, transformed, in the present.