Allegorie op het vaderland 1794 - 1795

This allegorical print, Allegorie op het vaderland, was created by L. Pithoud. Though the artwork’s date is unknown, we can tell from its neoclassical style that it was likely created at the end of the 18th century. This was a time when national identity and patriotic sentiment were in flux due to revolutions and political upheaval. In the print, we see a personification of the fatherland or “patrie” seated on a throne, surrounded by figures representing virtues and ideals. It is very typical of art from this period to represent abstract concepts through gendered, often racialized, forms. Here, the homeland is a regal woman. The classical imagery would have resonated with the period's elites, reinforcing ideas about citizenship and civic duty. The print is not just a representation of national identity but also a reflection of how power and belonging were conceived during this period. This artwork invites us to think critically about how the concept of "fatherland" has been constructed, and how it continues to shape our understanding of identity and belonging today.