Burgemeester Hendrik Hooft Danielsz spreekt de burgerij toe, 1787 1787

Willem Kok captured this moment in 1787 with pen and gray ink, showing Burgemeester Hendrik Hooft Danielsz addressing the citizens. Notice the raised arms and clenched fists of the crowd, gestures that echo across history. These are not merely indications of agreement; they are a visual language of empowerment. Think back to antiquity, to the Roman salute—a pledge of allegiance and unity. Here, it surfaces again, transformed yet still potent, as a symbol of collective will. One can trace its echoes through the French Revolution and beyond, always evolving, sometimes distorted, yet persistently linked to the primal human desire for solidarity. These symbols are not static; they pulse with the anxieties and hopes of each era. Kok's drawing captures that fleeting moment when individual emotion coalesces into a shared identity, a potent reminder of the cyclical nature of history and the enduring power of symbols.