Zevende eeuw 1667 - 1672

This small print, titled "Zevende eeuw", was created by an anonymous artist. Prints like this one were tools to both record and shape public opinion. Given its imagery, one can assume that the piece reflects anxieties around religious and political conflicts of the time. The winged lion motif speaks to a tradition of heraldry, with the beast’s body divided into sections, each numbered and containing scenes of warfare and historical events. The scenes emphasize male figures and martial exploits, offering a gendered perspective on power and history. The cumulative effect is one of relentless struggle, perhaps inviting reflection on cycles of violence. What is depicted is less a specific event, but rather the experience of a world perpetually in conflict. The anonymous nature of the artist only underlines the collective anxieties of this period.