Reproductie van een prent van een wapenschild door Crispijn van de Passe before 1880

This is a reproduction of a print of a 17th-century coats of arms, likely intended as a model for artists and craftsmen. At its apex, a modest shield is flanked by classical figures, standing guard as if to legitimize the lineage it represents. Now, consider the shell motifs, echoing classical antiquity as emblems of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, commonly associated with life, birth, and regeneration. These symbols are repeated throughout time, appearing on Renaissance paintings or Botticelli’s famous depiction of Venus. These are not simply aesthetic choices; they are laden with historical and cultural memory. How is a coat of arms like a collective family memory, and how does this cultural artifact embody a deeply rooted psychological need for belonging and continuity? The visual language used to create this print taps into a non-linear, cyclical progression, continually resurfacing, evolving, and assuming new meanings across different historical contexts.