Tien vogels op gestileerde ranken c. 1630

This delicate etching, made by Bartholomeus van Lochom, features birds perched on stylized tendrils. Birds, throughout history, have fluttered through our collective consciousness, often representing the soul's journey or freedom of thought. Here, these birds amidst swirling vines evoke a sense of lightness. Think of the ancient Egyptian soul-bird, the Ba, or even the dove of peace, a symbol that took flight during the Christian era, adapted from Roman symbols of love and safety. Observe how one bird spreads its wings, an image that is a visual echo of the Winged Victory of Samothrace, yet transformed. The gesture of flight, of aspiration, remains potent, ingrained in our symbolic vocabulary, a visual shorthand for ambition and transcendence. This image engages us on a deep level, reminding us of humanity’s age-old fascination with the skies and our dreams of breaking free. And so, the symbol resurfaces, each time colored by its new context, a testament to the enduring power of visual memory.