Prinsgezind aanplakbiljet, 1672 1672

This anonymous broadside was printed in Amsterdam in 1672, a year of crisis for the Dutch Republic. It is a call to arms for supporters of the House of Orange. The text makes explicit demands for political reform that would empower the citizenry. The document reflects the tensions between the ruling merchant class and those who sought a return to power for the Prince of Orange. References to corruption and the East and West India Companies point to economic grievances. The broadside illustrates the role of print in shaping public opinion during a period of political upheaval. Its threats against those who would tear it down show the stakes involved. To fully understand this image, one might consult archives of pamphlets and other printed ephemera from the period, as well as the records of the Dutch East India Company. The meaning of this seemingly simple text is contingent on understanding the social and institutional contexts in which it was produced and consumed.