Matthias legt te Brussel de eed als landvoogd af, 1578 1588

This engraving by Frans Hogenberg depicts Matthias taking the oath as governor in Brussels in 1578. The scene is dominated by symbols of power and allegiance. Banners and flags are prominently displayed, representing not just political entities but also the hopes and loyalties of those present. Consider the banners, emblems of identity and unity; they echo through history from Roman legions to modern nation-states. Here, they are not merely decorative; they are performative, actively shaping the perception of authority. This recalls the "Triumph" motif, where banners were displayed to enhance the power of the triumphant. These symbols tap into what we might call the collective unconscious, a shared reservoir of ancestral memory. The oaths taken, the display of flags, all speak to a deep-seated human need for order and authority. However, like history, the symbol has a non-linear, cyclical progression, resurfacing and evolving as it takes on new meaning in different historical contexts.