Gezicht op de binnenplaats van het Oudemannenhuis te Amsterdam 1726

This is an etching of the courtyard of the Old Men's House in Amsterdam, created by an anonymous artist. The orderly layout of the courtyard, with its symmetrical garden and linear pathways, evokes a sense of control and imposed structure. Notice the banner above the building that literally translates to 'Old Men's House'. Banners have long served as symbols of identity and authority, evolving from military standards to emblems of civic institutions, each iteration carrying the weight of tradition and collective memory. Consider, too, the image of the garden. Across cultures, gardens have been imbued with symbolic meaning—from paradise to philosophical reflection, each representing a desire to return to an ideal state. Here, it offers not only a contemplative space but, like the banner, a sense of identity and purpose. Gardens and banners thus become powerful symbols, transcending their immediate context to engage us on a subconscious level. These symbols resonate through time, reappearing and evolving, their meanings shaped by each new era.