Allegorie op het 100-jarig jubileum van Nederlands Vrijheid, 1648-1748 1748

Simon Fokke created this etching, "Allegory on the 100th Anniversary of Dutch Freedom, 1648-1748," to commemorate a century of independence. The image is rich with symbolism. The female figures represent liberty and peace. The putti, or cherubs, evoke notions of innocence, and a bright future for the new republic. But what did this freedom truly mean, and for whom? The allegory presents a very specific, perhaps even propagandistic, view of Dutch society. While the etching celebrates freedom, it also subtly reinforces the dominant social order. Consider how liberty is embodied by idealized, ethereal figures, not everyday people. The imagery serves to legitimize the existing power structures. The Dutch Golden Age, while a period of economic and artistic flourishing, was also a time of stark class divisions and colonial expansion, and that is not shown here. It invites us to reflect on whose stories are told and whose are left out in the grand narratives of history. How do we ensure that freedom and prosperity are truly accessible to all?