Gezicht op Huis Harmelen after 1710

This undated print, “View of the House of Harmelen,” shows us an estate with symmetrical gardens and a grand house in the background. Above the house we find a banner. Banners have an ancient lineage, adorning both military and religious processions in times long past. Once, they were symbols of command and sovereign power, proudly displayed to rally forces during war. Their presence can be traced from the standards of the Roman legions to the dynastic flags of medieval Europe. Here, though, the banner serves a different purpose. Instead of power, it signals identity and place. Consider how such symbols have been recontextualized through time, from emblems of martial authority to markers of domestic status. It’s a testament to our human need to locate ourselves, not just geographically, but within the ever-scrolling chronicle of history. The banner, deeply rooted in our collective memory, still evokes a sense of belonging.