Vertoning van de Gewenste Vrijheid, 1648 1649

Salomon Savery created this print titled, ‘Presentation of Desired Liberty’ in 1648. It’s an etching that allegorically celebrates the Peace of Münster, marking the end of the Eighty Years' War between the Dutch Republic and Spain. At the heart of the image is a powerful female figure representing Liberty, enthroned above supplicants. Her posture, gaze and position reflects how freedom was imagined in the 17th century as a regal and authoritative ideal, embodying the values of the newly formed Dutch Republic. The kneeling figures offer her gifts, suggesting a reliance on her power. The presence of an angel above, trumpeting her arrival, underscores the divine sanction believed to support their newfound freedom. The print encapsulates a pivotal moment of national identity formation, one deeply intertwined with notions of liberty, trade, and divine favor. What does freedom really mean if it is dictated by a select few?