Zegewagen ter ere van Maarten Tromp, gesneuveld in de Zeeslag bij Terheide, 1653 1653 - 1655

Curator: What a whirlwind of cherubs and horses! It's so dramatic. Makes me feel like I should be composing an ode, or maybe commissioning a whole fleet of ships myself. What do you see? Editor: The drama is exactly right. This print, dating from around 1653 to 1655, depicts a triumphal chariot for Maarten Tromp, a Dutch naval hero who died in the Battle of Scheveningen. It’s currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Though the artist is currently unknown, the composition clearly aims for that Baroque sense of grand spectacle and allegorical complexity. Curator: Ah, allegory! That explains the posse of tiny angels blowing horns. So, it’s essentially propaganda then? A way to keep the public fired up about the war effort, even with Tromp gone? Editor: In a way, yes. These prints circulated widely and helped shape public memory. Notice how Tromp is depicted almost god-like, with Neptune’s trident. He embodies Dutch naval power. It uses recognizable imagery of triumph and martyrdom that served to further glorify his military role, thus strengthening his political image in service of the State. Curator: It's intense. You see him in the chariot being pulled across the sea by these powerful, frothy horses. It makes me wonder about the psychological toll of perpetually living in a state of war—like how do you even get groceries with that much fervor pounding through your veins? I think they are cute horses. Editor: The Dutch Golden Age was, despite its artistic achievements, a period of intense conflict. This image showcases how art could function both as a celebration of national pride and as a tool for justifying ongoing struggles. You know, prints such as this helped unify a disparate people under a single flag. Curator: It does makes you stop and think. I feel like it asks you to imagine how to picture such an event on the canvas so that every detail highlights how glorious and dramatic his death was for The Netherlands, like a final gift he gives the homeland. Makes you think how far people will go for the greater good. What a ride. Editor: Precisely. The art becomes inextricably linked with the social and political currents of its time. And considering the detail crammed into a small print – its really remarkable.