Titelpagina voor de Hollandsche Mercurius over het jaar 1670 1671

Romeyn de Hooghe created this print as a title page for the "Hollandsche Mercurius" of 1670. The Hollandsche Mercurius was an early modern journal, published in Haarlem, that chronicled the major events of the Dutch Republic. Here, de Hooghe uses a complex set of visual codes to convey the journal's mission. The figure of Mercury hovers above, representing news and communication. Below, a stage displays scenes of battles and political gatherings, suggesting the scope of the journal's coverage. At the base, figures representing different nations offer tribute, underscoring the journal's international relevance. De Hooghe’s print testifies to the growing importance of public information and the development of a public sphere in the Dutch Golden Age. Understanding this image requires us to consider the history of Dutch print culture, the rise of journalism, and the role of visual propaganda in shaping public opinion. These are just some of the research avenues a historian might explore.