Tamar toont het onderpand c. 1549

Dirck Volckertsz Coornhert’s engraving depicts Tamar presenting the tokens, a signet, cord, and staff. These symbols are central to the story from Genesis, representing Judah’s power and identity. The staff, a common symbol across cultures, signifies authority and lineage. We see its echo in classical antiquity, carried by rulers and gods, a tradition that continues through the Middle Ages and into Renaissance art. Similarly, the ring or signet appears as a marker of identity in various forms and contexts, from ancient Egyptian seals to medieval heraldry. The act of recognition, of identifying oneself through objects, speaks to a deeply rooted human need for identity and continuity. It's a visual echo that resonates across time, reminding us of how symbols carry the weight of history and collective memory, influencing our perceptions on a subconscious level.