Zuil der Overwinning, 1599 1599

This hand-colored engraving of a Triumphal Column was created in 1599 by an anonymous artist, and commemorates a monument dedicated to Archduke Albert and Isabella, sovereign rulers of the Spanish Netherlands. The engraving depicts a column topped by a statue of Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory. But the triumphal arch shown here is also a cultural artifact, a piece of political propaganda designed to project an image of strength and stability. The column is flanked by statues of Albert and Isabella and the Latin inscriptions at their bases tell of the virtues and honors they embody. The original column, of which this is just one representation, was erected during a truce in the Eighty Years' War, yet it was destroyed by the people of Brussels shortly after its completion, a sign that the Spanish rulers were not as popular as they wished to appear. As historians, we look for the symbolism and rhetoric that were called upon to imbue the image with authority. By studying the visual codes and cultural references of this print, we can learn more about the complex political landscape of the Netherlands during this period.