Spiegel van het schip de Zeven Provinciën 1665 - 1707

Willem van de Velde the Elder rendered this drawing of the stern of the ship the Zeven Provinciën with pen in gray, revealing symbols of power and pride from the Dutch Golden Age. The stern teems with symbolic ornamentation. Winged figures reminiscent of classical antiquity flank heraldic shields, while fierce lion heads snarl from the upper levels. The lion, a symbol of courage and royalty, echoes through time, from ancient Mesopotamian monuments to medieval European heraldry. Its constant reappearance speaks to the enduring human fascination with strength. Here, these motifs are not merely decorative but serve as totems, projecting Dutch naval power and commercial ambition onto the vast oceanic stage. Consider how such symbols work on our subconscious, stirring feelings of awe and perhaps even intimidation. These images carry an emotional weight, a visual language designed to impress and assert dominance. This visual vocabulary, steeped in history, links us to a collective past, demonstrating the cyclical nature of power and its symbolic representation.