Portret van Jakob Glentner 1665 - 1712

This is an engraving of Jakob Glentner by Johannes Meyer II. Note the oval frame surrounding Glentner, a form echoing the classical world’s tradition of immortalizing figures in medallions. Below Glentner is a coat of arms crowned with what seems to be a bishop's cross and hat. This emblem speaks to Glentner’s status and lineage within his community, a visual shorthand for power and authority. Heraldry, dating back to the Middle Ages, served as a mark of identity, a visual language of family history and allegiance. But look at the bishop's cross. A symbol, rooted in religious authority, here attached to an emblem of civic power. The cross, originally a symbol of sacrifice and redemption, appears in secular contexts, evolving into a signifier of dominance. Consider how symbols are never static; they migrate and evolve. The emotional weight they carry shifts and transforms, engaging us in a continuous dialogue between past and present.