The Empress 1751

This is Claude Burdel's "The Empress," a woodblock print made in Switzerland during the 18th century. The Empress sits enthroned, holding a scepter and shield, symbols of power and authority. But it is the shield’s emblem, a stylized eagle, that intrigues me most. We see the eagle motif echoed throughout history, from the Roman Empire to Napoleon's imperial standard, each time embodying dominion and victory. It's as if the collective subconscious cannot escape the potent symbolism of this bird. The eagle appears to symbolize the divine right to rule, an almost primal expression of leadership. This symbol persists and mutates across cultures, revealing a profound psychological need for figures of authority. It is a visual echo that speaks to the cyclical nature of power, forever imprinted in our cultural memory.