Portret van Jakob Bitelmar 1666 - 1722

Georg Fennitzer made this portrait of Jakob Bitelmar using etching sometime around the late 17th or early 18th century. The coat of arms in the upper right corner—a heraldic symbol representing family lineage—reveals a connection to ancestral valor and status. Consider how such emblems appear across cultures, echoing through time, from medieval tapestries to modern corporate logos. They represent a primal need to belong and to stake a claim in the world. The wings that adorn the coat of arms can be traced back to ancient Greek depictions of Hermes or Roman depictions of Victoria. This symbol has undergone countless transformations, yet its essence remains: the aspiration to rise above the earthly realm. Such visual motifs tap into our collective memory, stirring subconscious desires for recognition. It is a potent image that continues to engage us, reminding us of our intrinsic, historical connection to symbols of status and aspiration.