Opera Nova Universali intitulata Corona di racammi, page 11 (verso) 1530

This is page 11 from "Opera Nova Universali intitulata Corona di racammi," a woodcut made by Giovanni Andrea Vavassore in Italy, sometime in the 16th century. Here, an array of animals, both real and fantastical, populate a grid of individual frames. Lions, unicorns, dragons, snails: each carries its own symbolic baggage. Take the unicorn. In medieval times, it symbolized purity and grace. The image of a unicorn appears throughout history in tapestries, paintings, and heraldry. Now, consider how such a symbol may have evolved. The shift from religious contexts to secular heraldry marks a fascinating transformation. What was once a symbol of divine purity now signifies nobility and power. These symbols are not static; they resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, reflecting our ever-changing psychological and cultural landscapes.