Penning op het ontzet van Leiden, 1574 1721 - 1723

This engraving depicts a medal commemorating the relief of Leiden in 1574. At the top, we see the retreating Spanish forces, tents askew, fleeing the wrath of the Dutch. Below, Leiden rises from the landscape, a city reborn. The motif of the fleeing army is a potent symbol of liberation, its roots stretching back to antiquity. We might recall similar scenes of defeated armies on Roman triumphal arches, a visual shorthand for victory. Yet, here, the context shifts. It is not merely military might that secures Leiden’s freedom, but the force of collective will. Consider the emotional weight of this image for its intended audience. For a populace enduring siege and hardship, this medal serves as both a memento and a talisman, embodying the hope of deliverance. The cycle continues: past triumphs inform present struggles, and art becomes a vessel through which collective memory is not just preserved but actively reshaped.