Filips van Anjou uitgeroepen tot koning, 1700 1706 - 1727

Pieter Schenk's etching from 1700, now in the Rijksmuseum, captures the proclamation of Filips van Anjou as king. The raised flag, here a symbol of allegiance and new beginnings, reminds us of ancient Roman standards held aloft to rally troops. This gesture, deeply embedded in our collective memory, surfaces repeatedly through history. Think of Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People, where the flag embodies revolutionary fervor. The power of the flag lies in its ability to stir primal emotions. Here, it signifies the shifting allegiances and the dawn of a new era, tapping into the collective hopes and anxieties tied to leadership and national identity. These symbols, in their cyclical return, reveal how human societies continually grapple with power, loyalty, and the desire for a stable order. This constant reshaping and reimagining, speak to the enduring, non-linear progression of cultural symbols, reflecting a never-ending human story.