Begrafenisstoet van aartshertog Albrecht (plaat XXXII), 1622

This print, made in 1622 by Cornelis Galle I, depicts the funeral procession of Archduke Albrecht. Note the prominent display of flags, each bearing a heraldic lion, symbols of power and dominion. The lion, a primal emblem of strength, has roared across centuries and cultures; we find it in ancient Mesopotamian art, medieval European heraldry, and even modern national symbols. This symbolic animal resonates with a collective memory, tapping into our subconscious understanding of authority and courage. Yet, consider how its meaning morphs: once a symbol of divine kingship, here it represents earthly power, paraded in a somber procession. The tension between the lion's assertive symbolism and the mournful event evokes a deep, psychological unease, reminding us of the transient nature of power and the inevitability of mortality. This cyclical return and reinterpretation of the lion motif underscores how cultural symbols persist, continually shaped by the currents of history and human emotion.