Het Volksbewind Gevestigd, decoratie op het Amstelveld, 1795 1795

This print made in 1795 by Noach van der (II) Meer depicts a decoration on the Amstelveld. The artwork presents a scene of civic celebration, primarily using cool tones and precise lines to construct a formal, almost architectural depiction. The use of watercolour, combined with the print medium, gives the image a delicate, ethereal quality. Centrally, a classical column dominates, spiralled with greenery, acting as a plinth for symbols of national identity. This column is not merely a decorative element; its elevation signifies the stability and establishment of the new popular government. Enclosing this monument is a symmetrical arrangement of arches that creates a measured rhythm and dictates how one perceives the central column and the tableau it encloses. The work uses a semiotic system, positioning classical imagery within a contemporary political context to communicate ideas about governance and civic values. The artist destabilizes traditional monarchical symbols, replacing them with emblems of popular sovereignty. The print serves not just as a record, but as an active participant in shaping public perception and legitimizing a new socio-political order.