Procession, with six men riding horses 16th century

This print presents six men riding horses, their lances held high. The procession, a motif deeply embedded in the human psyche, speaks to collective purpose and social cohesion. The lance, a symbol of power and authority, extends skyward, reminiscent of ancient depictions of divine figures wielding thunderbolts or scepters. Consider the Roman Triumph, where victorious generals paraded through the city, or even earlier depictions of kings on horseback from the ancient Near East. But here, the lances also evoke something more primal – a collective assertion of dominance. Think of how the raised spear or sword in ancient battle scenes was used to symbolize aggression and readiness. Through the ages, the lance morphs – from a tool of war to a symbol of royal power, and later, as seen in Renaissance jousts, a display of courtly skill and status. This procession isn’t merely a historical record; it's a deep echo of humanity's ever-evolving relationship with power, conflict, and social order.