Vier episodes uit de vaderlandse geschiedenis 1722 - 1784

Simon Fokke created this print, “Four Episodes from National History,” using etching, sometime in the 18th century in the Netherlands. It presents a series of dramatic, violent episodes from Dutch history, each rendered in exquisite detail. Prints like these were central to the construction of national identity. By depicting key historical events, they helped to forge a shared sense of the past. Here, Fokke is working within a broader tradition of history painting, but adapting it to the more accessible medium of print. The question, of course, is whose history is being told, and for whom? The focus on dramatic, often violent events, suggests an attempt to create a heroic narrative. But it also serves as a reminder of the costs of nation-building. Historical research can shed light on the specific events depicted, and the ways in which they were understood in Fokke’s time. By looking at other prints, paintings, and historical texts from the period, we can begin to understand the complex relationship between art, history, and national identity in the Netherlands.