Portret van Johann Maximilian 1628 - 1670

This is Pieter de Jode the Younger’s engraving of Johann Maximilian. The two heraldic crests above and below Johann frame his identity within the noble tradition of his lineage. Heraldry, a visual language of symbols, tells tales of family history, power, and alliances. The eagle, a common charge in heraldry, symbolizes courage and strength, echoing back to ancient Roman emblems of imperial authority. In the medieval imagination, these symbols were not mere decoration; they were a script of social memory. Consider how such symbols recur across centuries, from the eagles adorning Roman standards to their presence on modern national flags. The image, through such emblems, engages our collective unconscious, stirring ancestral memories and long-held associations of power and identity. It's a potent reminder that images are never truly still.