Artist signing a screen, no. 1 from the series of 12 prints c. 1708

This is "Artist Signing a Screen, no. 1" a woodblock print made by Okumura Masanobu in Japan. Here, we observe figures adorned with mon, the Japanese heraldic crests. Notice the circular mon on the figures' kimonos. Historically, these emblems signified family lineage and identity, not unlike the coats of arms in medieval Europe. But consider the deeper resonance: in societies where names and faces might fade, the mon endures as a visual anchor, evoking a sense of continuity. These emblems echo symbols found across cultures, from ancient Egyptian cartouches to the insignias of Roman legions, each serving as a potent reminder of belonging and shared history. The very act of signing the screen is a ritual—a claiming of space and time. This urge to leave a mark, to assert one's existence, resonates through the ages. The mon, in its enduring form, reminds us of art's profound capacity to weave together personal and collective memory, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. It is a cyclical progression of a symbol, resurfacing through time, taking on new meaning.