Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1891 - 1894

This is the back of a correspondence card, a briefkaart, sent by Barbara Elisabeth van Houten, likely around 1912, evidenced by the postmark. Dominating the upper left is a coat of arms, a heraldic emblem crowned with authority, embodying a region, a lineage. Such symbols hearken back to medieval banners and seals, proclaiming power and identity through visual shorthand. Here, it signifies the sender's connection to a structured societal order. Consider, though, how these emblems, these inherited visual devices, carry with them not only pride but also the weight of history, the echoes of conflict, and the silent narratives of generations past. The crown suggests a divine right, which, when scrutinized, reveals the intricate psychological dance between power and submission. This motif will reappear throughout time as humankind is doomed to repeat itself through a constant power dynamic.