Bereden standartbærer, profil mod h.; standarten er to-fliget, rytteren ubevæbnet, på hesteryggen foran ham en pølseformet bagagesæk 1576

Melchior Lorck created this print of a horseman bearing a standard, a symbol laden with significance. The standard, with its flowing ribbons, acts as a rallying point, a visual embodiment of loyalty and collective identity, harking back to ancient Roman vexilla. Consider, though, how such a symbol transcends its immediate military function. Throughout history, flags and banners have served as potent emblems of power, faith, and communal aspiration. We see echoes of this in medieval tapestries, where heraldic banners denoted lineage and allegiance. Even the simple act of carrying a flag becomes a charged gesture, an expression of commitment that resonates across epochs. It speaks to our innate human need for belonging, for alignment with something larger than ourselves. A potent reminder that symbols evolve, yet their emotional core persists, stirring our collective memory.