Vers op de val van Bergen op Zoom, 1747 1747

Editor: This is "Vers op de val van Bergen op Zoom, 1747" by Nicolaas van Frankendaal. It's an engraving, so it’s both graphic art and typography on what looks like textile. It seems to capture a very mournful or desperate mood. What exactly am I looking at, in its time? Curator: You're right, it’s a poignant piece reflecting on the Fall of Bergen op Zoom. Beyond individual grief, it’s an excellent example of how print culture operated as a space for collective political expression. What social and institutional forces shaped how news, and especially bad news, spread in the 18th century? Editor: So, it's like… propaganda after a major defeat? Curator: Precisely! Consider who might commission such a print. Was it an individual patriot, or were there broader networks involved in distributing this message to influence public opinion? Think about the context. The War of the Austrian Succession just ended. Editor: I guess people wanted to make sense of the defeat and maybe reignite patriotic feelings? Curator: Exactly. Notice how the text frames the event not just as a military loss, but as a moment for national introspection and a call for renewed courage. The artist invokes historical and religious imagery to heighten the emotional impact. How does evoking “Bato’s Helden” function in this narrative? Editor: It’s kind of like saying, ‘Remember our glorious past! Don’t give up!’ I hadn't thought of it like that. Curator: Indeed. Understanding the political use of imagery helps decode its message. Editor: I see now it is more than a lament. Thank you, I learned to understand better how cultural forces could make propaganda art so powerful in 18th century.