Personificatie van de provincie en het graafschap Henegouwen 1648

This engraving by Jean de la Barre, made in 1642, features a personification of the province and county of Hainaut, surrounded by symbols of power and authority. At the center, the figure is seated upon a lion, a symbol of strength, courage, and royalty, tracing back to ancient Near Eastern art and reappearing in countless contexts from biblical imagery to heraldic emblems. This reflects a deep-seated cultural association between the animal and leadership. The figure is holding flags bearing the coat of arms of different regions. Consider the caduceus, an ancient Greek symbol of Hermes with two snakes entwined around a staff. In the figure's hand, it alludes to trade and commerce, and also represents the balance of opposing forces. This iconography is not static; the caduceus has evolved from a symbol of negotiation and peace to a symbol of medicine. The figure is flanked by two characters on each side, holding what appear to be bundles of wheat. These symbols, charged with cultural memory, are powerful forces engaging viewers on a subconscious level. They remind us of the non-linear progression of symbols through history, constantly resurfacing and evolving across time.