Fragment van een tafellaken met de inname van Rijssel door Eugenius van Savoye after 1708

This linen damask cloth commemorates the capture of Rijssel by Prince Eugene of Savoy, a scene subtly woven into its fabric by an anonymous hand. Dominating the design are symbolic celestial bodies, the sun and moon, ancient emblems of power and time. Notice how the radiant sun, often associated with enlightenment and victory, mirrors the moon, a symbol of reflection and the cyclical nature of fortune. This juxtaposition echoes through history, from ancient Egyptian iconography to Renaissance emblems, representing the balance of opposing forces. Consider the sun's rays, reminiscent of Apollo's crown, an emblem of divine authority, yet here, it illuminates a scene of military conquest. Such imagery is not static; it evolves. What was once purely religious or mythological transforms into political allegory, carrying complex emotional weight. The cloth serves as a powerful reminder that symbols are never truly fixed. They constantly resurface, transformed by collective memory and subconscious desires.