Het wapen Verheye 1750 - 1799

This is a hand-painted coat of arms, made on paper by an anonymous artist. The materials are straightforward: ink, watercolor, and paper. But notice the way the artist has deployed them. The shield itself is meticulously rendered, with alternating bands of color. The curling acanthus leaves are carefully painted in red and white, suggesting depth. And then there’s the crest – a leaping bull. The real story here is less about the raw materials than about the social context. Coats of arms like this were essentially brand logos, communicating a family’s identity and aspirations. This one would have been commissioned, requiring a skilled artist to visualize a client’s self-image. So, when we look at this image, we’re not just seeing ink on paper; we're seeing a snapshot of social hierarchies, artistic labor, and the desire for status. Recognizing these factors helps us understand the complex story embedded in this seemingly simple image.