Spotprent nav de herdenking van het ontzet van Leiden, 1874 1874

This print, made in 1874 by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans, depicts two men in conversation, a reflection on the commemoration of the Relief of Leiden. Our attention is drawn to the figure on the left, whose attire evokes the Leideners of 1574. The hat and clothing carry strong historical associations, symbols of the Leiden citizens who endured the Spanish siege. Notice how the artist uses this historical costume. It's not merely a depiction but an invocation of a collective memory. Consider the use of clothing as a motif throughout art history, reappearing across cultures and epochs. It represents more than mere protection; clothing embodies identity, status, and allegiance. The subconscious appeal lies in the human need for belonging and historical continuity, tapping into our deep-seated longing for connection with the past. Symbols, though, are never static. Like migratory birds, they resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.