Proclamatie te Gent van Karel II van Spanje als graaf van Vlaanderen (blad 4), 1666 1666 - 1667

This is a 1666 engraving by Lucas Vorsterman II, depicting the proclamation of Charles II of Spain as Count of Flanders in Ghent. Note the escutcheons beneath the portraits on the left. Heraldry, in its essence, is a language of symbols. These emblems, with their complex arrangements of charges and tinctures, are not merely decorative, but a visual encoding of lineage, power, and allegiance. Consider how similar symbols of power, such as eagles or lions, appear in other contexts and cultures, from Roman standards to medieval banners, representing authority, dominance, and cultural identity. These symbols aren't static; their meanings evolve, adapting to new historical contexts and cultural sensibilities. The persistence of such imagery speaks to our collective memory, a psychological force that shapes how we perceive and interpret these emblems across centuries. They resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.