Allegorie op Voorne-Putten, Overflakkee en Poortugaal 1798

This print, made in Amsterdam in 1798, depicts an allegory on Voorne-Putten, Overflakkee en Poortugaal. It's the work of Anna Catharina Brouwer and was intended as an illustration for a book. The image creates meaning through established visual codes. For example, the figures are allegorical representations of the regions mentioned in the title and the clothing they wear would have immediately connoted ideas of commerce and local identity. At this time, the Netherlands was in turmoil. The old Dutch Republic had been overthrown by French revolutionary forces a few years before and replaced with the Batavian Republic. Prints like this offer us a window onto local cultural pride at a time of great political upheaval and remind us of the vital role art played in forming public opinion. To understand this moment better, historians consult sources such as pamphlets, newspapers, and popular song lyrics to understand how people felt about these changes.