Gezicht op vuurwerk en een triomfboog met een tweekoppige adelaar en de naam van Jozef II, Duits keizer 1765 - 1799

This anonymous print depicts fireworks over a triumphal arch dedicated to Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor. Above the arch, we see the double-headed eagle, a symbol of imperial power since the Holy Roman Empire. The eagle, of course, has flown through history since ancient times, appearing as a symbol of strength in Mesopotamian art and later adopted by the Roman Empire. The two-headed version here evokes the Byzantine Empire. In many cultures, the eagle is associated with the sun and sky gods; it is not merely a symbol of authority but also of divine right. Observe how the fireworks bursting forth evoke the same sense of awe and wonder, mimicking the power once attributed to celestial deities. This display appeals to our primal fascination with light and spectacle. The image becomes a psychological canvas where power and spectacle merge, inviting us to consider how symbols evolve and persist, echoing through time.