Schetsblad met ontwerp voor het monument voor Bernhard, hertog van Saksen-Weimar, op het Huygensplein te 's-Gravenhage 1828 - 1893

Johan Philip Koelman sketched this design for a monument to Bernhard, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, with pencil on paper. At the monument's apex, a statue grasps flags, ancient symbols of allegiance and nationhood. This motif reverberates through history, from Roman legionary eagles to medieval banners, each iteration bearing the weight of cultural identity and military might. Think of the psychological power these symbols wielded, stirring collective passions and solidifying communal bonds. The flags also evoke a deeper, almost subconscious response. They represent a longing for belonging, for a shared purpose that transcends individual existence. This yearning is not new; it pulses through centuries of art, literature, and human action. Note the cyclical journey of the flag motif. It is a testament to our enduring quest for order, unity, and meaning.