Toelichting op de tekening van de triomfpoort 'Dits vaderland, uw vader...' 1710 - 1720

This document, ‘Explanation of the drawing of the triumphal gate ‘This fatherland, your father…', is an anonymous work made on paper, using the simple technology of pen and ink. The work is a broadside, likely printed in multiples. The black ink contrasts starkly with the white paper, creating a document intended for wide distribution. The dense text and tight layout show a prioritization of information over aesthetic flourish. This was not an artwork intended for precious display. The text is both Dutch and Latin. It is a piece of political propaganda related to the execution of Johan van Oldenbarnevelt in 1619. The text presents a critical view of Oldenbarnevelt and justifies his execution. The mode of production allows for the rapid dissemination of this perspective. Here, the means of production – the printing press – directly served a political end, blurring the lines between art, information, and ideology. The social context deeply influenced the way it was made and used.