Diploma van Tooneelmaatschappij de Dijlezonen te Mechelen 1815 - 1909

Jean Baptiste Coene created this diploma for the Dijlezonen Theater Society of Mechelen using etching techniques. A woman stands tall, likely a representation of fame. Her gesture of extending a leafy branch is reminiscent of classical depictions of peace and abundance, an echo of the "Pax Romana," where an offering of an olive branch symbolized submission and a desire for tranquility. Consider how this motif—the offering of a branch—appears across time. In ancient Greece, suppliants would carry olive branches to seek protection; in Christian art, it's a symbol of reconciliation with God after the Flood. In the collective subconscious, this branch invokes a deep-seated yearning for resolution. Here, the branch is a symbol of the theater society's commitment to harmony and flourishing, connecting its artistic endeavors to a timeless quest for cultural and social equilibrium. It represents the cyclical return of themes in human expression.