Vignet met een pauw en het wapen van de stad Amsterdam met een kroon 17th century

Curator: Here we have a 17th-century print by an anonymous artist entitled "Vignet met een pauw en het wapen van de stad Amsterdam met een kroon," which translates to "Vignette with a peacock and the coat of arms of the city of Amsterdam with a crown." Editor: You know, the immediate feeling I get is one of contained elegance, like a whispered secret held within that oval border. It feels intimate, almost like a personal seal. Curator: It is rather intricate, wouldn’t you say? Note how the city's coat of arms featuring three crosses, sits just above a proud peacock, both encircled by a laurel wreath, a classic symbol of victory and honor. Peacocks were symbols of pride, of course, but also immortality, linked to solar cults with their radiant 'eyes.' Editor: Pride is certainly radiating from that peacock! The detailing of the feathers is just superb, considering the size, or, likely, lack thereof. There is a delightful contrast between the somewhat austere coat of arms and the sheer flamboyant spectacle of the bird. It feels...playful, doesn’t it? Curator: Absolutely. The emblem of Amsterdam here may connect civic pride with this imagery of almost vain beauty and incorruptibility; these are values they wished to uphold. Remember, Amsterdam was a major power in the 17th century, a real 'peacock' of trade and culture. Editor: It makes me wonder who commissioned this and for what purpose. The personal touch suggests it was made for an individual, as if some Matthias of the time thought they were the very incarnation of Amsterdamian splendor and desired this emblem specifically as their symbol. Curator: The lettering circling the central emblem adds a layer of personalization and mystery. I believe it references the name Matthias. The laurel wreath further cements this as something akin to an achievement or mark of nobility, an identity statement, so to speak. Editor: An elegant declaration, indeed. Seeing this little jewel, one can appreciate the intricate ways our forebears saw, portrayed and expressed themselves with objects, signs and symbols. Everything in life can mean a little more, don’t you think? Curator: Very true. Art always holds up a mirror, allowing us a better view of ourselves as individuals and communities.