De vernietiging van de oude constitutie 1795

Jan Bulthuis made this artwork about the destruction of the old constitution, using pen and gray ink, around 1787. The drawing speaks to the tumultuous political climate in the Netherlands during the late 18th century, marked by growing discontent with the old aristocratic order. Bulthuis uses allegory to express political viewpoints on the cusp of the French Revolution. The artwork shows a woman, who we might read as a personification of the Dutch nation, setting fire to the wheel of "Aristocracy". The wheel includes a wind-powered section with faces, representing those in power. The emotional pull of this piece resides in its symbolism of change, and the artist’s hopes for the future of Dutch politics. Bulthuis critiques the elite and celebrates a shift in power towards a more inclusive form of governance. He encapsulates a moment of transformation, reflecting both the societal unrest and a collective aspiration for a new political order.