Bas-reliëf met Faam 1636 - 1647

Valérien Regnard created this bas-relief, titled "Bas-reliëf met Faam," sometime between 1610 and 1650. Regnard, working in an era marked by the long shadow of the Renaissance and the rise of Baroque sensibilities, presents us with an allegory steeped in classical motifs. The figures of Fame, with their wings spread, flank a central inscription, alluding to themes of legacy and remembrance. Yet, I wonder, whose stories are being told? And at what cost? Below, the bodies of the defeated form a kind of support, reminding us of the hierarchies inherent in celebrating victory and renown. This image, born from a society deeply structured by power, invites us to reflect on the narratives we perpetuate, and on the silent figures who undergird the very notion of fame. It serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities embedded within the seemingly straightforward act of memorialization.