Dansend paar 1552 - 1610

This unsigned, undated print on paper at the Rijksmuseum shows a dancing couple. Observe how the man wears a sword, a symbol of status and power. Throughout history, weapons have been associated with virility and strength. Consider the classical depictions of Mars, the god of war, often shown with similar attributes. Yet, here, the sword seems almost cumbersome, more of a fashion statement than a practical tool. The gesture of holding a sword appears in various epochs. Think of Roman emperors depicted with their gladius or Renaissance portraits of noblemen. The meaning shifts; it could signify military prowess, justice, or simply aristocratic lineage. Our collective memory associates these images with authority and control, yet the somewhat awkward stance of the man suggests a tension between the ideal and the real. Symbols are not static; they are living entities that morph and adapt through time, echoing our deepest desires and anxieties.