Gezicht op de stad Gorinchem en linker deel van een plattegrond van Gorinchem 1600

Nicolaes Weydtmans created this print, "View of the city of Gorinchem and the left part of a map of Gorinchem," during a time of great change and exploration. Notice the angel hovering above the city, holding a tablet. This figure is reminiscent of depictions of Fame or Victory in classical art. Such figures often heralded important events or divine favor. Similarly, the heraldic symbols above the city—coats of arms and crowned lions—speak to Gorinchem's status and power within the region. Interestingly, the angel motif, rooted in both classical and religious traditions, finds echoes across centuries and cultures. Consider its parallels with Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, or even the winged figures in Renaissance Annunciation scenes. The emotional resonance of these images taps into deep-seated desires for success and divine protection. Like a snake eating its own tail, this visual language of power and divine endorsement resurfaces across time. The angel, the heraldic symbols, and the city itself become testaments to enduring human aspirations and anxieties.