H. Joris doodt de draak 1627

Lucas Vorsterman I engraved this print, H. Joris doodt de draak, sometime between 1595 and 1675. In it, Saint George, mounted on horseback, is slaying a dragon, an allegory of good triumphing over evil. The motif of the dragon slayer is ancient, appearing in various forms across cultures. Consider, for example, the myth of Perseus rescuing Andromeda from a sea monster, or the Mesopotamian god Marduk battling Tiamat, the chaos dragon. These archetypal images tap into a deep-seated human need to confront and overcome primal fears and the chaotic forces of nature. The collective memory of these narratives charges the image with psychological resonance. Over time, Saint George has morphed into a symbol of military prowess and moral rectitude. It's a potent reminder of how symbols can take on new layers of meaning, reflecting a culture's evolving values and anxieties.