Vouwprent met allegorie op de geboorte van prins Willem Frederik, 1772 1772

This 1772 etching by Noach van der Meer II, now held in the Rijksmuseum, celebrates the birth of Prince Willem Frederik. Dominating the scene are two women seated on either side of a richly decorated table, flanking an ornate structure, likely alluding to birth and lineage. The symbolic weight of the seated figure has ancient roots. Consider the classical image of the “Venus Pudica,” a motif that reappears throughout history, in which the goddess covers her genitals with one hand. Here, however, we see the seated woman as a representation of prosperity, in an inversion of that motif. Rather than conveying modesty, here the woman is portrayed as the representation of the burgeoning house of Orange. The power of these symbols lies in their ability to engage us on a subconscious level. The celebration, repeated across time and cultures, emphasizes the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. These images resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts, demonstrating the enduring power of cultural memory.