Vignet met het stadswapen van Den Haag before 1752

David Coster created this vignette of The Hague's coat of arms, sometime around the early 18th century. At its heart, we see a stork, an emblem deeply intertwined with the city's identity, and to either side, allegorical figures of justice, holding scales, and prudence, holding a mirror. The stork, bearing a snake in its beak, immediately recalls ancient symbols of renewal and vigilance. Yet, consider how this motif is echoed across cultures. In ancient Egypt, similar avian forms represented the soul's journey. In other contexts, the snake represents wisdom and healing. Here, the serpent's presence introduces a layer of complexity. In ancient iconography, the mirror often symbolizes self-awareness, a tool for introspection. Paired with the snake, it evokes questions of temptation, knowledge, and the dualities of human nature. These symbols are not static; they are fluid, evolving through our collective consciousness. As you contemplate this image, think how the past speaks to us, not in a linear narrative, but in a continuous cycle of reinvention and remembrance.