Rede auf Wilhelm Grimm und Rede über das Alter 1864

This is the cover of “Rede auf Wilhelm Grimm und Rede über das Alter” printed in Berlin in 1864, with an oval portrait of Wilhelm Grimm. The portrait here, marking this book as a commemorative object, echoes the ancient Roman tradition of imagines maiorum—ancestral portraits kept and displayed to honor family lineage and virtue. The face becomes a potent symbol, a focal point for collective memory. Think of the death mask, an even more direct impression of the deceased's visage. The masks were believed to capture the essence of the individual, preserving their spirit. Similarly, a portrait captures not just the likeness but also the perceived character and legacy of the subject. Consider, too, the tradition of relic veneration, where objects associated with holy figures were believed to contain spiritual power. A portrait, in this sense, becomes a secular relic. It embodies the subject's influence, their contributions, and their lasting presence in the world. The longing to preserve a person’s likeness is deeply rooted in our human psyche, a testament to the enduring power of memory and the fear of oblivion.