Façade met personificaties van vijf bevolkingsgroepen 1659

Daniël van den Bremden created this undated print, now in the Rijksmuseum, using etching, and engraving. The image presents a façade with personifications of five population groups, and offers a fascinating look at the political uses of imagery. Made in Amsterdam, the print served as the title page for Volume Four of Johannes Janssonius’s “Novus Atlas,” a grand project that reflects the Dutch Republic's ambitions as a center of cartography and commerce in the 17th century. Through classical allegories and heraldic symbols, the print makes a claim about Great Britain. We see Britannia at the center, flanked by figures representing the English, Scottish, Irish, and Romans, each laden with cultural and historical meaning. Van den Bremden uses a visual vocabulary of power. Analyzing this print requires more than just aesthetic appreciation. By studying the historical context of Dutch cartography, British history, and the visual language of political symbolism, we can better understand the complex interplay between art, power, and national identity in this period.