Allegorische voorstelling met Waarheid 1713 - 1733

Bernard Picart created this allegorical print of Truth sometime between 1696 and 1733. In it, Truth is shown as a nude, helmeted woman bearing a flaming sword and mirror, repelling a crowd of masked figures. Here, Picart evokes a classical visual language. The masks worn by the crowd suggest the theatrical, even deceitful, nature of public life in the 17th and 18th centuries. Consider the context of the Dutch Republic, a center of global trade and emerging capitalism, where appearances could easily mask underlying realities. The artist seems to be suggesting that the institutions of society can be corrupted by those who put on a false face. As historians, our role is to peel back the layers of meaning in such images. This involves delving into the social and political context of the time, examining period texts and understanding the prevailing cultural attitudes. Art like this reminds us that its meaning is always shaped by its time.