Portaal gedecoreerd met rustica, bekroningen en een wapenschild 1593 - 1595

This print of a portal decorated with rustica, awards, and a coat of arms was made by Wendel Dietterlin sometime in the late 16th century. During this time, social identity was closely linked to one's lineage and heraldry. Coats of arms, like the one featured prominently here, were not mere decoration; they were potent symbols of a family's history, status, and claims to power. The very act of displaying such imagery was a declaration of identity, a way of staking one's claim in a world defined by rigid social hierarchies. Dietterlin's detailed rendering invites us to consider the emotional weight attached to such symbols. For those entitled to bear them, coats of arms represented belonging, privilege, and a sense of continuity. The rustica design aesthetic adds another layer of meaning. As a design style, rustica was often employed to convey a sense of strength, stability, and permanence.