Wapenschild met oude twijnende vrouw 1488 - 1492

This is an engraving depicting a coat of arms by the Master of the Amsterdam Cabinet. On the shield, we see an old woman using a spinning wheel, while a rooster with raised wings sits atop the helm. The rooster, often associated with vigilance and pride, may appear on family crests to symbolize courage and readiness. Here, it is juxtaposed with an old woman spinning, a domestic scene far removed from the battlefield. The presence of the spinner might recall the classical myth of the Fates, ancient goddesses who controlled the threads of life. Such motifs are not static; they morph across time, imbued with new meanings and adapted to suit various cultural needs. Consider how the image of the old woman at the spinning wheel contrasts with the virile rooster, echoing psychological undercurrents of the life cycle, from creation to mortality. This tension speaks to the core of human experience. The old woman and the rooster, ancient symbols, reappear throughout art history, continuously transformed, demonstrating how cultural memory shapes and reshapes our understanding of life and heritage.