Coat-of-Arms of Robert le Roux, Lord of Tilly, Counselor at the Parliament of Normandy c. 1630

Curator: Olin Marc created this emblem, "Coat-of-Arms of Robert le Roux, Lord of Tilly, Counselor at the Parliament of Normandy." Editor: The griffin figures have such personality. They are so regal and imposing, yet there's also something whimsical about them. Curator: Indeed. The symbolism of coats-of-arms functioned as public declarations of identity and lineage, reinforcing social hierarchies. The griffin itself is a powerful symbol, frequently associated with courage and nobility. Editor: It's like a mashup of nature and fantasy. The heraldry feels almost alive, pulsing with the energy of the natural world, and yet totally fabricated. Curator: Exactly. It's a crafted persona, a public-facing identity rooted in very specific historical and political circumstances, meant to legitimize power. Editor: Looking at it now, I feel like the artist managed to infuse it with so much soul despite the rigid conventions. I'm ready to go home and design my own! Curator: The power of such emblems resonates even today. We create and consume so many symbols in the 21st century to project the image of ourselves that we hope to create.