Gekostumeerde optocht van 1841: ridders en soldaten (blad VII) 1841

This is a print depicting a costumed procession of knights and soldiers, created in 1841 by an anonymous artist. Observe the prominent heraldic symbols. Lions emblazon flags, shields, and horse covers. The lion, a solar symbol, is an emblem of courage and nobility, deeply embedded in the Western psyche. The lion motif traces back to ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. It was associated with royalty and power, and later adopted by European nobility during the medieval period. As we know, symbols of the medieval age re-emerge time and time again through history. Consider its presence: a display of power, but perhaps a playful, nostalgic one here. The collective memory of valor and order is powerful, and this procession evokes a sense of continuity with the past. The appeal of these romanticized symbols engages us on a deep, subconscious level. The lion continues its cyclical journey through art and culture, forever evolving. Its presence in heraldry remains potent, a testament to the enduring power of symbols.