Spotprent over de verbondenheid van Nederland en België, 1883 1883

Curator: Well, here we have a political cartoon, an engraving from 1883 called "Spotprent over de verbondenheid van Nederland en België," which translates roughly to "A Cartoon about the connection between the Netherlands and Belgium." Editor: My first thought is that it's roaring with symbolism. Look at those lions, almost cartoonish but with these incredibly serious, intelligent eyes. They're regal, imposing. Are they meant to be allies or rivals in this handshake? Curator: Lions as national symbols have deep roots. The Dutch lion, and the Belgian lion both feature on their respective coats of arms. Their intertwined paws underscore the theme of unity, further reinforced by the text at the bottom of the print. One says, "L'union fait la force," and directly beneath it is, "Eendracht maakt macht". Both phrases translate to "Unity is strength", in French and Dutch, respectively. Editor: "Unity is strength"—it's such a timeless and cross-cultural concept. The image also brings up ideas around inherited national characteristics: How much is a nation’s character due to the landscape and events it has seen? It seems to argue that their similarities run deeper than political alliances. Curator: Precisely! I see the floral wreath of roses encircling the scene also to soften the militaristic impression of heraldic emblems. I think this softens it further to suggest friendship. There's also those mottoes emblazoned above the lions, creating visual echoes of one another. Editor: Echoes...I keep circling back to the lions themselves. Their faces are rendered so realistically. Are these noble, peaceful creatures? Or, perhaps this a call to acknowledge that to live at peace, we must also know how to strike with great strength if required. I like how it holds both possibilities in one frame. Curator: The ambiguity really keeps it interesting. I'll never look at national symbols the same way again. Editor: Exactly! Now I want to go and see more.