Wapen van het Verenigd Koninkrijk 1695

This engraving, by Bartholomeus van Swinderen, presents the title page for a collection of Dutch laments on the death of Queen Mary. The composition is dominated by typography, arranged hierarchically to draw the eye. Note how the letterforms, with their serifs and varying weights, create a structured visual rhythm, almost like a musical score. Below the title, the coat of arms of the United Kingdom serves as a central emblem. Encircled by the motto of the Order of the Garter, it's a symbolic representation of power and authority, meticulously rendered through the engraver’s line. The visual elements are signs, culturally coded. The typography, beyond its literal meaning, conveys dignity. The coat of arms represents the sovereign. Together, these elements do not merely inform but construct meaning, reflecting the cultural values and the semiotic language of the period. How might our reading of these signs change over time, as cultural codes evolve?