Portret van Alexander van der Capellen 1866 - 1868

Jan Frederik Christiaan Reckleben's "Portret van Alexander van der Capellen" is an engraving presenting us with the stern visage of a nobleman, his identity proclaimed by the heraldic crest below. The cross, prominently displayed, is not merely decorative; it echoes through centuries, harking back to the symbols of crusading knights and the shields of medieval Christendom. Think of the recurring motif of the cross, a symbol of salvation, sacrifice, and power that pervades religious and secular art across Europe. The cross appears in various contexts from the simple crosses of early Christian art to the more elaborate crucifixes of the Renaissance. It is this image, laden with historical weight and social significance, that imprints itself upon the collective memory. The emotional resonance of such symbols taps into deep-seated cultural narratives, reminding us that images, like dreams, are repositories of shared human experience. As we journey through the gallery, observe how symbols resurface, transformed yet familiar, in an unending cycle of cultural expression.