Aankondiging van de prent met de banieren bij het tweede eeuwfeest van de Utrechtse Hogeschool, juni 1836 Possibly 1837

This printed announcement by C.A. van Dommelen in 1836 promotes the sale of lithographs depicting banners created for the bicentennial celebration of Utrecht University. The banners themselves are potent symbols. In ancient times, banners served as rallying points on the battlefield. Over time, they evolved into symbols of identity and shared values for civic and religious groups. Consider the Roman standards, or the vexillum, with their iconic eagles representing the power of the empire. The cultural memory of such symbols echoes through the ages. The psychological impact of these banners taps into our deep-seated need for belonging, for a visual representation of collective identity. Now, consider the banners of Utrecht University. They represent not military might, but intellectual and civic pride. Yet, the emotional power remains; they stir feelings of loyalty and shared identity. The very act of creating and displaying these banners for the bicentennial speaks to a need to visually assert the university's enduring legacy. These banners echo throughout history, re-emerging and evolving, reminding us of the continuous thread of human identity.