Wapenkaart van de hoofdofficier, burgemeesters, schepenen, raden, pensionaris en secretarissen van Enkhuizen, 1666 1666

This is an anonymous print from 1666, a ‘Wapenkaart,’ or Armorial, of the chief officer, burgomasters, councilmen, pensionary, and secretaries of Enkhuizen. Its composition is rigorously structured: a grid of precisely rendered heraldic crests, each surrounded by elaborate, symmetrical foliage. These emblems, signs of power and lineage, are presented almost as specimens. The visual language of heraldry, with its complex system of symbols and colors, functions here as a semiotic code, each element a signifier of identity and status. The arrangement, however, suggests more than mere display. The grid implies a levelling, a democratization of representation, even as it reinforces social hierarchy. Look closely at the details: the fine lines, the careful hatching that gives depth and texture. These are not merely decorative elements; they are integral to the symbolic function of each crest, and reflect a broader cultural concern with order and classification. This armorial is not just a record of individuals, but a statement about the structures that define their world.