Vernietiging der Aristocratie, decoratie op de Westermarkt, 1795 1795

This is Vernietiging der Aristocratie, decoratie op de Westermarkt, made in 1795 by an anonymous artist. It captures a moment of revolutionary fervor in the Netherlands. The print shows a temporary structure erected on the Westermarkt, a public square in Amsterdam, during a period of political upheaval. The central image of Hercules slaying the Hydra symbolizes the people’s fight against aristocracy. The hydra, a multi-headed serpent, is often seen as a metaphor for challenges where eliminating one problem leads to a proliferation of others. Hercules, a hero celebrated for his strength and perseverance, embodies the virtues of the revolutionaries. The choice of Hercules as a symbol is itself interesting. Historically, he stood for the established order, yet here, his figure is re-appropriated to represent radical change. The print aims to reflect and shape public sentiment, presenting the revolutionaries as virtuous heroes and the aristocracy as a monstrous entity deserving of destruction. What tensions do you feel when considering violence as a tool for social change?