Adreskaart van de Gecroonde Sluyyer c. 1663 - 1695

Christiaan Hagen created this address card for "The Crowned Veil" with etching around 1635-1707. The work overflows with symbols of power and commerce characteristic of the Dutch Golden Age. The heraldic lions flanking Amsterdam's coat of arms declare civic pride and strength. Below, a feathered plume and crown are prominent motifs. Across centuries, headwear signified status and authority, tracing back to ancient headdresses. This echoes in royal portraits throughout Europe, where crowns legitimized power. The image plays on collective memory. The crown, from antiquity to modernity, stirs subconscious recognition of authority. Hagen’s composition evokes this deep connection, engaging viewers with the cultural weight of symbols passed down through history, constantly shifting and evolving.