Rolwerk met onderaan links en rechts een hond after 1554

This intricate rolwerk print, created by an anonymous artist, showcases symbols that echo through time. Dominating the composition is a helmet adorned with lavish foliage, a clear nod to classical antiquity, symbolizing power and nobility. Such motifs are not isolated; they resurface in Renaissance tapestries and Baroque sculptures, each time imbued with contemporary meanings. Take the foliage, for instance. Initially a symbol of fertility and growth in pagan rituals, it later became integrated into Christian art to represent spiritual rebirth. The image of dogs can be linked to the guardian figure Cerberus, who guards the gates to the Underworld, a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. These non-linear evolutions of symbols highlight our collective memory. Motifs resurface, evolve, and are imbued with new meanings in differing historical contexts.