Portret van Frederik Hendrik, prins van Oranje 1624 - 1652

This is an engraving of Frederik Hendrik, Prince of Orange, made by Crispijn van den Queborn. Observe the iconography surrounding the Prince: a crowned lion head at the top, framed by laurel and fruit trees and weapons. The lion, a symbol of strength and royalty, dominates the composition, its crowned head alluding to the Prince’s sovereign power, while laurel, the symbol of triumph and immortality, intertwines with fruit trees, connoting prosperity and divine favor. The appearance of the lion and the laurel is not new. Consider the lion gates of Mycenae, or the emperors wearing laurel wreaths on Roman coins. These symbols, charged with emotion and meaning, transcend their original contexts, reappearing across time, continuously adapting and being reborn. Just as the Prince here is presented as a figure of triumph and authority, these enduring symbols speak to a collective memory of power, engaging viewers on a subconscious level, reminding us of the cyclical nature of history and the enduring power of images.