Nieuwjaarswens van de Amsterdamse porsters voor het jaar 1865 1864 - 1865

This New Year's greeting for 1865 by an anonymous artist, likely a print, presents us with a fascinating array of symbols. Above a depiction of Amsterdam’s porters—workers who carried goods—wishing their patrons well, we see angels. Flanking a heraldic shield, they recall classical depictions of winged victories, a motif traceable back to ancient Greece and Rome. These figures, often associated with triumph and divine favor, suggest a hope for prosperity in the coming year. But consider the contrast: these lofty, ethereal beings watch over the everyday labor of the porters. This juxtaposition speaks to a deeper human desire to connect the mundane with the divine. The angelic figures, adapted from antiquity, reappear throughout the Renaissance and beyond, each time subtly altered to reflect the hopes and anxieties of the age. This non-linear trajectory reflects our collective memory and subconscious desires, resurfacing across time, demonstrating a cultural continuity, as humans seek solace and guidance.