Wapenschilden geflankeerd door Rechtvaardigheid en Geloof 1723 - 1767

This monochrome print by Jacob Folkema presents a composition dominated by symmetry and allegorical figures. The central shields are the focal point, and the eye is drawn to the intricate details of the heraldic emblems, meticulously rendered with fine lines. Flanking the shields are figures of Justice and Faith, positioned on a shared platform. Justice, on the left, holds scales and a sword, while Faith, on the right, is depicted with a book, symbolizing the foundations of belief and order. The composition invites us to consider the relationships between secular and spiritual authority. Notice the floral festoons draped across the architectural elements. These function not merely as decoration but also to soften the rigid structure, suggesting an integration of natural and constructed realms. The artwork is a semiotic structure, where each element contributes to a complex web of meanings, reflecting both the ideals and the tensions within 18th-century society. The combination of form and symbolism challenges us to decode these historical values.