Cartouche met vier broches, onderaan panorama van Parijs 1665

This print by Balthazar Moncornet features a cartouche adorned with brooches and a panorama of Paris. Here, the jewels, arranged meticulously, evoke a sense of opulence and permanence, acting as emblems of status. Floral garlands interwoven with ribbons create a paradoxical composition of natural beauty and artifice, reflecting the elaborate tastes of the era. But let us consider the historical context. The brooch, a personal adornment, reappears across time and space, from ancient Rome to Victorian England, always as a marker of identity and belonging. Like a talisman, it carries emotional weight, a tangible link to personal history. This visual language taps into a deep, collective memory. The cyclical nature of symbols is apparent; they resurface, evolve, and acquire new meanings across different eras, engaging viewers on a subconscious level.