Vrijheidsboom, 1848 1848

Carel Christiaan Antony Last created this print, "Vrijheidsboom," in 1848. Note the liberty pole, crowned with a flag, a jester's hat, a parrot, and a monkey—around which people dance in celebration. The liberty pole itself is an ancient symbol, seen in various forms throughout history, from the Roman "pileus," a cap of freedom, to the Maypoles of folk festivals. Here, it represents a nexus of liberation. The jester's hat mocks the old order, while the parrot, often associated with mimicry, perhaps suggests the echoing of revolutionary ideals. High above, the monkey ascends, a motif seen in art across cultures, embodying base instincts or even the folly of man, a satirical element contrasting with the aspirations of freedom. This tableau is a powerful expression of collective hope, capturing a moment of fervent belief in societal change, echoing the deep, often subconscious, desires for liberation. Its components are continually recycled; the symbols reappear, transformed, in the theater of human history.