De triomfboog bij het Buitenhof, 1691 1700 - 1724

Jacobus Schijnvoet created this print, "De triomfboog bij het Buitenhof", in 1691. It depicts a temporary triumphal arch erected in The Hague. These arches were often commissioned to celebrate significant events or honor powerful figures, serving as powerful tools for constructing and reinforcing political narratives. Consider the Dutch Republic at this time, a society grappling with its identity in the wake of its Golden Age. Gender, race, and class play out in complex ways within such displays of power. The arch is adorned with allegorical figures. Do they perpetuate the dominant cultural values, or do they offer space for alternative narratives? What stories are being told and whose voices are amplified or suppressed? Imagine the experience of encountering this arch in its original context. As you reflect on the history and symbolism embedded within this print, consider how public art continues to shape our understanding of power and identity today.