Drie bouwwerken voor het Costerfeest, 1856 1856

Carel Christiaan Antony Last created this design for "Drie bouwwerken voor het Costerfeest" in 1856. The print commemorates Laurens Janszoon Coster, whom the Dutch consider the inventor of printing. In the 19th century, the myth of Coster was promoted by the Dutch to construct a national history, distinct from their northern neighbors. It was a time of burgeoning nationalism and a search for cultural heroes. Gender norms also played a role, as male figures were often at the forefront of these narratives of national progress. The festivities, as envisioned by Last, served as a symbolic expression of Dutch identity. Each structure represents a different aspect of Haarlem's civic life, brought together under the banner of national pride. This print is not merely a design; it embodies the complex interplay between cultural identity, historical narrative, and civic pride in 19th-century Netherlands.