Patriotten verlaten de Neude te Utrecht, 1787 1789

Johannes Jelgerhuis created this print, "Patriotten verlaten de Neude te Utrecht, 1787" to capture a pivotal moment in Dutch history. The print depicts the exodus of the Patriots from Neude Square in Utrecht during the night of September 15-16, 1787. In the late 18th century, the Netherlands was politically divided between the Patriots, who sought democratic reforms and the Orangists, who supported the Stadtholder, William V. This division was deeply tied to class tensions, with the Patriots drawing support from the middle class and the Orangists from the aristocracy. Jelgerhuis, who at the time of the event, was a young boy of seventeen, portrays the Patriots not as heroes but as a defeated group, their departure signaling a setback for democratic ideals. The emotional weight of the scene is palpable, with the hurried retreat suggesting a sense of loss and the crushing of hopes for a more egalitarian society. As you reflect on this image, consider how it encapsulates the intertwined themes of political upheaval, class struggle, and the human cost of ideological conflict.