De Revolutie, decoratie op het Koningsplein, 1795 1795

This print, made in 1795 by an anonymous artist, depicts decorations in Amsterdam’s Koningsplein, likely an ephemeral monument made of wood and plaster. The print itself offers a window into the techniques of mass communication during a period of revolutionary change. Etching, here with delicate hand coloring, allowed for the relatively quick and inexpensive reproduction of images, disseminating political ideas to a broad public. The monument shows a symbolic union between the Netherlands and France, constructed no doubt by many hands, from designers to carpenters to painters. Its neoclassical design reflects the revolutionary fervor sweeping across Europe. The ephemerality of this plaster and wood construction underscores the way monuments are material embodiments of political will, even when only temporary. This print offers a tangible reminder of the labor, materials, and political forces intertwined in even the most fleeting artistic expressions, challenging our conventional distinctions between art, craft, and propaganda.