Wapens van de provinciën en hoofdsteden van het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden 1923

This anonymous commemorative print of the Dutch provinces and capitals, likely made using lithography, is a real kaleidoscope of heraldic imagery. The whole thing is steeped in tradition. What strikes me is the level of detail, repeated across each emblem. There’s a sort of delicate precision to the line work, yet there's a looseness to the application of colour that keeps it all from feeling too stiff. Look at the contrast between the symmetry and controlled composition of the central crest versus the tiny variations within the bordering floral ornamentation. This kind of contrast highlights art making as a kind of balancing act. It reminds me a bit of some of those densely packed, symbolic works by Hilma af Klint, though more formal, of course. Both share this sense of wanting to communicate a wealth of information – almost too much to take in at once – and, like all good art, embracing the fact that there will always be some degree of ambiguity at play.