Baan veloutébehang c. 1700 - 1750

This fragment of an anonymous velvet wallpaper is decorated with the recurring motifs of a man on horseback, deer, and floral ornaments. The equestrian figure, reminiscent of ancient Roman equestrian statues, symbolizes power and nobility. This motif echoes in countless artworks across eras, from Renaissance tapestries to modern advertising, each time embodying a blend of authority and grace. The deer, a symbol of gentleness and the hunt, appears frequently in mythological and aristocratic art, often associated with nature and courtly life. Its depiction here reminds us of its diverse interpretations, from a sacred animal in ancient cults to a prized quarry in medieval hunts. The non-linear, cyclical progression of symbols like these, with each resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings in different historical contexts, embodies the persistence of cultural memory and the dynamic interplay between past and present.