Schilderingen oostzijde, Sint Michielsabdij Antwerpen c. 1699

Hendrik Causé’s engraving of the east side paintings in Saint Michael's Abbey in Antwerp is replete with classical architectural motifs that tell a rich story of cultural memory. Notice the prominent Corinthian columns, those pillars of ancient Greece. They speak of structural support, but here, they also evoke the weight of history and the foundations of Western civilization. This form reappears throughout the ages, in Roman temples, Renaissance palaces, and even modern government buildings, each time subtly altered, yet retaining a connection to its origins. The classical vase motif is central to the image, and mirrors a similar shape in ancient Greek pottery. It is echoed later in funerary art as a symbol of mourning. This motif resonates with a deep psychological association with loss and remembrance. The visual language employed engages viewers on a subconscious level, and powerfully illustrates the non-linear progression of symbols throughout time. This cyclical progression resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.