Medaillon met een man op een wagen, getrokken door een ruiter c. 1525 - 1594

This print, made around 1600 by Hans Sibmacher, showcases a man in a wagon pulled by a horse, surrounded by rich ornamental designs. This central motif of a triumphant figure in a chariot has roots stretching back to antiquity, symbolizing power, victory, and the zenith of human achievement. Yet, such imagery is never static. Looking back to ancient Roman triumphs, where generals paraded through the city, or even further to the sun god Apollo traversing the sky in his chariot, we see this image constantly reinvented. In Sibmacher’s time, the motif resurfaces during the Renaissance, mirroring the era’s fascination with classical antiquity and finding new interpretations. Consider the image's emotional core: the adulation of the victor, the powerful figure sitting calmly in his chariot, embodies a sense of control and destiny. This is a recurring theme throughout art history. Thus, this print is not just an isolated creation but part of a continuous thread, revealing how cultural memory and the human psyche shape and reshape our symbols.