Vier episodes uit de vaderlandse geschiedenis 1722 - 1784

"Vier episodes uit de vaderlandse geschiedenis" was created by Simon Fokke in the 18th Century. The four panels you see here, speak to the cultural and political climate of the Dutch Republic during that time. As you look closer, each panel unfolds a narrative rooted in Dutch history. The etchings reflect a time when national identity was being constructed through historical narratives. Consider the intersection of power and representation: who gets to tell the story? Which events are memorialized? These images suggest a very particular construction of Dutch history and heroism. Fokke's decision to depict these historical scenes invites us to reflect on the stories we tell about ourselves. What does it mean to look back at history through the lens of national pride? It is a call to think critically about the stories that shape our collective memory.