On novohrad cemeteries between 1870 - 1910
:the value of symbolism
S. Martináková (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
J.A.M. Baeten – Mentor
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Abstract
The Novohrad cemeteries are a unique peculiarity in the context of cemeteries in Slovakia. Among other tombstones, they stand out for their unusual, very rich ornamentation and colourfulness, set in spaces reminiscent of groves or meadows. Above all, however, they stand out for their use of visual and spatial elements that were no longer common in late 19th-century Christian Slovakia and often belonged to archaisms, seemingly stemming from pre-Christian times. Beyond this physical form, these cemeteries also have an intangible dimension, which stems from their testimonial value about the society of the time and its life within the north-western Novohrad region. It was the circumstances of its historical development and everyday realities that had a significant influence on the creation of these tombstones, as well as on their unusual ornamental decoration.