Altaar met Neptunus en tekstfragmenten, pl. 6 1843 - 1845

This monochromatic print, "Altaar met Neptunus en tekstfragmenten, pl. 6," was created by Tiemen Hooiberg. It arranges a series of fragmented altars and inscribed stones across a pale ground, inviting us to consider the interplay between form and text. The composition is structured around three more complete altar forms at the top, with the central one depicting Neptune. Below, Hooiberg presents partial textual inscriptions, disrupting the completeness suggested above. This interplay of intact and fragmented forms destabilizes our understanding of historical narrative. The smooth lines of the altars and the rough edges of the stones create a tension between the aesthetic and the archaeological. Consider how Hooiberg uses the visual language of drawing to categorize, almost like a catalog. This system of organization doesn't just represent the objects but also frames them within a discourse of knowledge and preservation.