Fries met leeuw 1548

This anonymous 16th-century engraving presents a lively frieze, teeming with symbolic life. A regal lion dominates the scene, evoking strength and courage, virtues often associated with royalty and divine power. Consider the lion's journey through time: from ancient Mesopotamian art, where it symbolized power, to the heraldic emblems of European nobility. Here, in this print, the lion strides confidently, amidst swirling foliage, almost as if awakened from a long, symbolic sleep. The sphinx at the lower right reminds us of the ancient world. The torchbearer at the left alludes to enlightenment and knowledge. The torch, an ancient symbol of illumination, takes us back to the classical world and the ever-burning flames of wisdom. In Freudian terms, it symbolizes suppressed desires and subconscious longings, emerging into conscious awareness. It’s a motif that engages us on a visceral level, stirring deep-seated cultural memories. The engraving captures the essence of recurring symbols, revealing how history constantly reinvents itself. These motifs are not linear, but cyclical, resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings.