Begrafenisstoet met geleerden en edelen 1592

This engraving of a funeral procession with scholars and nobles was made by Frans Hogenberg, a Dutch engraver, around the late 16th century. Dominating the upper register of the artwork, we see a series of heraldic shields, each a complex symbolic representation of lineage and power, with their roots in ancient traditions. These motifs are not unique to this time and place. We find similar symbols across Europe, each with its own regional variation. Look at the lion, a symbol of courage and nobility, repeated in different forms; its psychological impact on the viewer is immediate, evoking feelings of awe and respect. Symbols are fluid and change over time. The shields here underscore the deep-seated human need to assert identity and legacy, but the elaborate display may also elicit a sense of melancholy. The ephemeral nature of life is sharply contrasted with the desire for enduring recognition. The persistence of the symbol in visual culture reflects our collective, subconscious grappling with mortality and the quest for immortality through remembrance.