Maurits behaalt de overwinning bij de slag bij Nieuwpoort, 1600 1775 - 1791

Mathias de Sallieth made this print of Maurits's victory at the Battle of Nieuwpoort in 1600. However, Sallieth lived nearly a century later. So, it's not a record, but a retelling. This begs the question, what function did history painting serve in the Netherlands during the late 1700s? The Dutch Republic was in decline, and the House of Orange's power was waning. By revisiting this battle scene, the artist evokes ideas of Dutch strength and national pride. This print's style is rather neoclassical, which was fashionable at the time, but also referred back to the art of antiquity. The work asks us to remember the past and see its relevance to the present. In doing so, it takes on a distinct political stance. Examining popular prints like these alongside pamphlets, newspapers, and political tracts reveals their role in shaping public opinion.