Grafmonument met een knielend echtpaar 1563

This print, titled "Grave Monument with a Kneeling Couple," was created by Johannes or Lucas van Doetechum. The kneeling couple in the print are engaging with a performative expression of grief that speaks to gendered expectations of mourning in the period. The monument's design and scale suggest a patron of high social standing, likely reflecting the wealth and status that allowed for such elaborate displays of remembrance. The attention to detail in the print serves not only to immortalize the deceased but also to reinforce prevailing social hierarchies. The inclusion of cherubic figures and the classical architectural elements blend religious and secular motifs, reflecting the complex cultural milieu of the time. It asks us to consider the social and personal functions that such monuments served, from preserving memory to asserting status.