Plattegrond van Stavoren met stadsgezicht 1664

This is Jacob van Meurs's 'Plattegrond van Stavoren met stadsgezicht', an etching showing a bird's-eye view of the Dutch city of Stavoren. Observe the heraldic symbols adorning the upper corners, emblems of power and civic identity, mirroring similar insignias found across Europe on city gates and royal decrees. The lion, a recurrent motif, embodies courage and vigilance, echoing its ancient roots in Mesopotamian art and mythology. This symbol reappears across time—from medieval tapestries to modern-day national flags—each instance imbued with layers of cultural memory. The act of mapping itself taps into a primal need to impose order upon the world, to chart the unknown. This cartographic impulse, driven by a desire to understand and control, connects us to ancient mariners navigating by constellations and Renaissance explorers charting new territories. Such symbols engage our subconscious, evoking collective memories and primal fears associated with boundaries and exploration. The city, secure within its walls, projects an aura of safety and prosperity. This visual language, deeply rooted in human history, continues to evolve, resurfacing in new forms and contexts, revealing our persistent quest for meaning.