The Company of Captain Pieter Dircksz Hasselaer and Lieutenant Jan Gerritsz Hooft, Amsterdam c. 1595 - 1605

This oil painting depicts a company led by Captain Pieter Dircksz Hasselaer and Lieutenant Jan Gerritsz Hooft. Note the objects they hold: a fish, a wine glass, and gloves. These items, while seemingly simple, echo through history. Consider the fish, for example. In early Christian art, it symbolized Christ, a secret sign used by believers. Here, it might allude to the company's role in providing for Amsterdam, yet it also carries echoes of older, sacred meanings, passed down through generations. The wine glass, too, transcends mere objecthood. It evokes the communal spirit of the Eucharist, a shared ritual of fellowship and sacrifice. These symbols tap into a reservoir of collective memory, subtly influencing our perception. Observe how the hands are gestured. These expressions are a powerful force, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level, triggering empathy and understanding. The progression of symbols is cyclical. They resurface and evolve, taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.