Standbeeld ter gelegenheid van het ontzet van Alkmaar op 8 oktober 1573 1876 - 1883

This is Frits Ohrloff’s ‘Statue commemorating the relief of Alkmaar on October 8, 1573’. The piece serves as a historical marker, rooting itself in the collective memory of Dutch resistance. The statue commemorates the victory against Spanish forces during the siege of Alkmaar. This victory, laden with nationalistic fervor, becomes a stage upon which ideas about gender and power are performed. The female figure, a winged personification of victory, stands triumphant. This raises a question about the construction of national identity through gendered symbolism. How do such representations reinforce or challenge existing social hierarchies? Ohrloff's work invites us to consider the complex interplay between historical narrative, artistic representation, and the construction of cultural identity. The statue serves as a mirror reflecting societal values and beliefs back at its audience.