Stadszegel van Leiden 1712

Editor: So, this is "Stadszegel van Leiden," created in 1712 by an anonymous artist. It combines etching, engraving, drawing, ink, and printmaking. My first thought is, wow, it’s intricate! The circular designs overlapping remind me of coins. What symbols stand out to you in this work? Curator: Immediately, the keys. See how prominently they feature on the shields in both seals? Keys, particularly crossed keys, carry tremendous weight. They symbolize authority, access, and control—the power to unlock and lock away. Do you notice where the keys are situated relative to the figures? Editor: Yes, they appear on shields beneath the central figures in both seals, so are they a core emblem of the city's identity, something they are presenting with authority? Curator: Precisely. The upper seal, ‘Le Vieux Scean,’ presents an older, perhaps more ecclesiastical authority with a bishop holding a key, while the lower shows a crowned figure, more suggestive of secular power, also holding a key. Think about what this shift might signify about the changing governance of Leiden during this period. Also consider that double meaning and context affect reception through memory and meaning. How do you see that play out here? Editor: I suppose that this city must have been at a critical historical point of switching power, it’s something of the past, with what is coming to be the future. How fascinating. I now recognize it to be a moment of evolution! Curator: Indeed, each figure, the arrangement, and even the text encircling the seals tell a story, echoing historical tensions and evolving societal structures within Leiden. Symbols serve as visual mnemonics. They trigger recall and reaffirm collective identity across generations. Editor: I appreciate that; what I first perceived to be solely an interesting design I now understand to have deep historic meaning, as the city went through changes in rulership. Thanks!