Gezicht op de Amstelkerk te Amsterdam after 1726

This anonymous print captures the Amstelkerk in Amsterdam, a church whose name is boldly inscribed on floating banners in the sky. These banners, reminiscent of triumphal standards from antiquity, represent a fascinating twist on religious iconography. Traditionally, banners or flags carried into battle or displayed in civic processions symbolized power, victory, and allegiance. Here, the sacred name of the church is paraded across the sky, almost as if claiming dominion over the cityscape. Think back to the Roman practice of inscribing deities' names on shields and standards, believing it would invoke divine protection. Has the artist perhaps evoked this tradition to suggest the pervasive influence of the church over daily life? This visual echo resonates through time, reminding us how symbols evolve, adapt, and continue to carry deep cultural weight, engaging us on a subconscious level with echoes of history.