Page from Ein new kunstlich Modelbuch...(Page 51v) 1544

This is a page from *Ein new kunstlich Modelbuch…(Page 51v)*, made around 1500 by Peter Quentel using woodcut. The composition displays a symmetrical heraldic design, dominated by elaborate, intertwined patterns. The stark contrast between the black ink and the off-white paper gives the print a dramatic visual texture. This highly structured layout is typical of its time, yet the detailed craftsmanship invites us to explore the symbolic interplay within. The heraldic elements – the shield, crowns, and animal supporters – are not merely decorative; they function as signs within a visual language. Here, the dense, rhythmic patterns serve to both represent and perhaps subtly question the rigid hierarchies they depict. The phrase “O Foelix Colonia”, inscribed below, hints at aspirations of prosperity and civic pride, all while the woodcut medium roots the design in a tradition of reproducible and accessible imagery. Consider how the visual structures of heraldry work to communicate power and identity, yet can also be reinterpreted as dynamic elements in a field of cultural and philosophical discourse.