Omslag voor de platen van de optocht bij de viering van het 25-jarig regeringsjubileum van koning Willem III te Amsterdam, 1874 1874

This is the cover for the program of King Willem III’s jubilee parade in Amsterdam, made in 1874 by Tresling & Comp. The rampant lions flanking the Dutch coat of arms immediately catch the eye. These lions, symbols of strength and sovereignty, echo motifs found as far back as ancient Mesopotamia. Lions appear on royal standards, emblems of power, and heraldic crests across millennia. Here, they support the modern Dutch monarchy, but their roar resonates with ancestral claims to authority. Consider the psychological weight of these emblems. Nations and rulers throughout time have tapped into this primeval association, using the lion to project might, instilling a sense of security and pride. It’s a visual language embedded deep within the collective consciousness, revived and adapted for King Willem's celebration. Though the program commemorates a specific event, the lions remind us of how symbols are far from static. They constantly resurface, evolving, and acquiring new layers of meaning in each historical context.