Wapenschild met gebroken kronen en een verscheurd vaandel van de Rijnbond 1813

This etching, "Wapenschild met gebroken kronen en een verscheurd vaandel van de Rijnbond" made in 1813 by Hermanus Fock, presents a shattered coat of arms. Dominating the image are broken crowns and a torn banner, potent symbols of the Rhine Confederation's collapse. The broken crown reminds us of the ancient Roman concept of "damnatio memoriae," the condemnation of memory, where symbols of power are destroyed to erase a figure or event from history. Here, it signifies not just defeat but a deliberate attempt to dismantle the legacy of a fallen regime. The image also features a snake biting its own tail, an ouroboros, an ancient symbol of cyclicality and eternity, often associated with alchemy. The ouroboros is not merely a symbol of endless return; it embodies the psychological concept of the eternal recurrence. In this context, it speaks to the inevitable resurgence of conflict and change. This cyclical nature, a pattern seen throughout history, evokes deep emotional responses, tapping into our collective memory of past struggles.