Stamboom van het Huis Oranje-Nassau, 1733 1733

This print, made in 1733 by an anonymous artist, depicts the genealogy of the House of Orange-Nassau through a visual display of heraldic symbols, the coats of arms. These emblems are not mere decorations; each one carries centuries of history, power, and identity. The lion, for example, a recurrent motif, symbolizes courage and nobility. It is deeply rooted in ancient traditions, from biblical imagery to medieval heraldry. Across cultures, the lion represents royalty, strength, and divine authority. We see its echoes in ancient Mesopotamian art and later in the royal standards of Europe. This symbol persists and evolves, reflecting our collective, subconscious need for figures of power and protection. Just as the human mind seeks patterns and archetypes, so too does history recycle and reimagine its symbols, imbuing them with new, yet familiar, significance. Each crest in this family tree is a psychological anchor, connecting the present to a distant, often idealized, past. This non-linear and cyclical progression of symbols resurfaces in different contexts throughout history, always evolving, always adapting.