Een gildeoptocht, 13e eeuw 1853 - 1861

This print, made by Christiaan Lodewijk van Kesteren, depicts a guild procession in the 13th century. Observe the prominent flag, a symbol of unity and shared purpose, carried high. Flags, like the banners of ancient Rome, or even the standards of medieval crusades, have always signified collective identity. The procession itself echoes the triumphal marches of antiquity, a recurring motif in art history. Consider how such processions, laden with symbolism, reappear across cultures and epochs, each time infused with the specific values of its age. The very act of communal procession seems to tap into a deep, perhaps subconscious, need for belonging and order. Now, consider the dog. The dog is a symbol of loyalty and faithfulness, a motif stretching back to ancient Greece. What does this tell us about the emotional undercurrents present in this scene? These men are loyal to their guild, and this devotion inspires feelings of safety and pride. The flag and the dog, together, are a visual reminder that these feelings are ancient and ever-present.