Façade van een gebouw te Antwerpen before 1881

This anonymous image captures the façade of a building in Antwerp, likely dating to the 16th or 17th century. The doorway commands attention, framed by decorative stonework and crowned with a prominent lion's head. The lion, a motif resonating through time, embodies power, courage, and regality. We find it guarding ancient Mycenaean gates and adorning medieval heraldry. Yet, consider how its meaning morphs: from a symbol of divine strength in antiquity to a marker of noble lineage in Europe. It evokes a primal resonance, stirring subconscious associations with authority and protection. Here, this symbol appears in the architecture of an Antwerp building. Note the architectural features framing the entrance, drawing the eye to the doorway. Through this symbolic framing, the artists are subliminally signaling power and authority, speaking to the subconscious understanding of the building's inhabitants.