Vorstelijk tafereel (onderste helft), 1676 1676

Romeyn de Hooghe created this print in 1676 as a Dutch response to the Franco-Dutch War. It's a dense layering of political commentary, myth, and baroque aesthetics. This print presents the war as a grand, almost theatrical spectacle, but one with deeply human costs. De Hooghe uses allegory to explore the conflict, personifying nations and virtues as classical figures, drawing a parallel between contemporary events and historical or mythological narratives. Look closely and you'll see symbols of Dutch identity and resistance interwoven with images of suffering. There's an interesting contrast here: the celebration of Dutch power exists alongside the depiction of the war's devastating impact on ordinary people. Consider how De Hooghe uses the visual language of his time to shape public opinion, crafting a narrative that is both propagandistic and deeply emotional. The print invites us to reflect on how war is not just a matter of politics and power, but also of profound human experience.