Façade met Belgica, Concordia en Abundantia 1657

This undated print, made by an anonymous artist, presents the allegorical façade of ‘Theatrum Urbium Belgii’, a book published in Amsterdam by Johannes Janssonius. Prints like this were immensely important for the dissemination of knowledge and the creation of cultural identity. This title page is a symbolic statement of the union of the cities of the Low Countries as the ‘Belgica’. The figure of ‘Belgica’ herself is on top, with Concordia and Abundantia to either side of the title. This was a period of relative prosperity in the Netherlands after the end of the Eighty Years’ War with Spain. The image creates meaning through the classical architecture and allegorical figures, which were part of a shared visual code across Europe. Understanding this imagery requires us to look into the books, pamphlets, and prints that circulated at the time, as well as considering the economic and political conditions of the time. We can understand how this image served its contemporary audience and how they understood their place in the world.