Boom als symbool voor het ontstaan van de regeringsvorm van Nederland, 1786 1786

This is a 1786 print by Johan Christoffel Schultsz, titled "Tree as a symbol for the origin of the form of government of the Netherlands." This allegorical image takes the form of a tree, its roots embedded in a map of the Netherlands. Its branches sprout leaves bearing the names of historic figures. This representation casts light on the political climate of the Netherlands in 1786, during a period of conflict between the Patriots, who sought democratic reforms, and the Orangists, who supported the rule of the stadtholder, William V. The tree can be understood as a symbol of the Dutch Republic. Schultsz uses visual codes to convey a narrative about the nation's identity and political ideals, as well as the institutional and political history of the Dutch Republic. As historians, we can dig deeper into the archives and libraries to understand better the political symbolism of the tree, its roots, branches, and leaves, and the way it reflects the complex history of the Netherlands.