Drie afbeeldingen van een erepenning voor de Utrechtse vrijwillige jagers te paard bij de Slag bij Waterloo 1865

Willem Matla created these three images of an honorary medal for the Utrecht volunteer horsemen at the Battle of Waterloo. The medal features a heraldic eagle, a symbol of power and victory, deeply rooted in ancient Roman military standards. Observe how the eagle, with its outstretched wings, echoes across time. We see this symbol reborn in different eras and contexts. Consider the Napoleonic eagle, a conscious revival of Roman imperial imagery, intended to project authority and dominance. The eagle reminds us of humankind's enduring fascination with power and the symbols that represent it. Such images engage us on a subconscious level. The need for recognition and the fear of defeat are emotional forces that shape not just individual actions but also collective memory. The evolution of this motif reveals our cyclical engagement with themes of authority, triumph, and the psychological impact of symbols.