Handelsmerk van Jan Both 17th century

This print, Handelsmerk van Jan Both, resides in the Rijksmuseum and was created by an anonymous artist, rendering the date of its making uncertain. The composition is structured around an oval frame, densely packed with symbolic imagery executed in meticulous detail. The entire visual field is filled with heraldic motifs, mythical creatures, and scenes of labor. The artist employs a complex semiotic system, layering emblems and allegories to construct a multi-tiered narrative. This creates a visual hierarchy within the composition. The upper section features a coat of arms flanked by lions, while the lower section depicts figures engaged in trade. Notice how the artist uses the frame not merely as a border but as an integral element, intertwining ribbons and foliage. This entwining suggests a cyclical continuity, where the different components are not merely decorative but integral to the print’s underlying meaning. This complexity challenges fixed interpretations, inviting us to decode its visual and cultural layers.