Titelpagina voor de Hollandsche Mercurius over het jaar 168(5?) 1686 - 1688

Romeyn de Hooghe created this title page for the Hollandsche Mercurius around 1685, using etching. The Hollandsche Mercurius was a Dutch newspaper, offering a glimpse into the political and social currents of the time. De Hooghe's print layers classical allegory with the gritty realities of war. Here, the figure of Justice looms large, an axe in her hand, poised over bound captives. The goddess symbolizes the ideals of order and fairness, yet her presence is complicated by the violence she seems to condone. Below her, a scene of battle unfolds, capturing the raw chaos and human cost of conflict. The Mercurius sought to present a comprehensive, if subjective, account of the Netherlands. De Hooghe's cover suggests a world where grand ideals are constantly negotiated. It invites us to think about the stories we tell ourselves about power, justice, and the ever-shifting theater of history.