Vignet met het wapen van de stad Haarlem 1635 - 1694

Dirck de Bray created this Coat of Arms vignette using pen in ink, sometime in the late 17th century. De Bray lived during a time of significant social stratification, where heraldry and emblems of civic identity were potent symbols of power and status. The piece is a representation of Haarlem, a city in the Netherlands, featuring lions, a shield, and Latin inscriptions. Yet the imagery of power—the lions, the sword, the bare tree, and the crown—might invite us to consider those who were excluded from such displays of civic pride. What did belonging to this city mean for women, for religious minorities, or for those of lower social status? How did their identities intersect with the dominant narrative of Haarlem's strength and virtue? Consider the emotional weight carried by symbols of identity, and how they both unite and divide communities. As we engage with this vignette, let’s think about how power is represented and who benefits from its display.