Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken before 1887

Adriaan Pit crafted this postcard, now held at the Rijksmuseum, bearing the imprint of its time. Notice the coat of arms, a symbol of state authority, rendered here with a stylized lion rampant, itself a common heraldic symbol seen across Europe. This emblem, though diminished in scale, echoes grander manifestations of power, from medieval tapestries to contemporary monuments. It is a visual shorthand for concepts of nationhood, lineage, and control. Consider how such motifs migrate through time, appearing in varied contexts—perhaps on a medieval shield, or adorning a modern political banner. Each time, the symbol is imbued with new significance, yet it remains tethered to its historical origins. This card is a reminder of the continuous dialogue between past and present, where symbols persist as potent carriers of cultural memory.