Onenigheid met paus Paulus III en Hendrik II, koning van Frankrijk, rekenpenning van de raad van Financiën, ter ere van Karel V, Duits keizer 1547

This is a bronze medal, made anonymously, commemorating disagreement with Pope Paul III and Henry II, King of France, during the reign of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. Behold the crowned profile, reminiscent of ancient Roman emperors, symbolizing power and authority. The imperial eagle—a symbol of dominion since antiquity—dominates the reverse side. But what is the meaning of this heraldic figure? Its roots trace back to ancient Rome. It was later revived by Charlemagne, and here it embodies Charles V’s aspirations to universal rule, albeit shadowed by discord. Like a recurring dream, the eagle motif reappears throughout history, each time bearing a new layer of meaning. From the Roman legions to the Holy Roman Empire, it signifies the enduring human quest for power and order. Observe how the artist employs these symbols not merely as emblems, but as psychological triggers, tapping into our collective memory of empires, conflicts, and the timeless drama of human ambition. This cyclical progression of symbols, surfacing, evolving, and acquiring new meanings, reminds us that history is not a linear path, but a labyrinth of echoes and transformations.