Portret van Johann Adam von Sengelau 1666

Matthias van Sommer etched this portrait of Johann Adam von Sengelau, likely in the mid-17th century. Dominating the figure’s chest are the symbols of high status: a medallion and an eight-pointed star. Consider the star—a motif stretching back to ancient Mesopotamia, often linked to divinity and cosmic order. Look how it reappears across cultures, from the Star of Bethlehem in Christian iconography to the heraldic badges of nobility. Its geometry seems to speak to a universal yearning for guidance and purpose. But symbols are never static; they morph with the times. What was once a potent emblem of celestial power can become a mere marker of social rank. Is it possible that the collective memory, the deep-seated human need for symbols of hope, infuses even these secular emblems with a subconscious power? The star continues its non-linear journey, resurfacing and evolving.