Schetsblad met ontwerpen voor het monument voor Bernhard, hertog van Saksen-Weimar 1828 - 1893

This is a sketch sheet for a monument design by Johan Philip Koelman. Notice the recurring motif of the statue atop a column, an enduring symbol of power and commemoration. This symbol is not confined to this time or place; it echoes through the ages. Think of Trajan's Column in Rome, where the Emperor’s deeds are immortalized. This motif also invokes the psychoanalytic concept of the collective unconscious. The desire to immortalize, to leave a lasting mark, speaks to our shared human anxieties about mortality and oblivion. The column, reaching skyward, represents our yearning for transcendence. The statue represents the individual, but it’s more than that: a representation of shared values, leadership, and cultural identity. Over time, the meaning of these symbolic forms shift. In some eras it may signify military triumph, in others, civic virtue. What remains constant is its emotional resonance, and our need to give form to abstract concepts. This monument is not just a tribute to a Duke; it’s a window into the enduring human quest for meaning.