Allegorie ter ere van de koning van Pruisen voor zijn herstel van het stadhouderschap van Willem V, 1788 1789

This allegorical print, created in 1788 by Jan Gerritsz. Visser, commemorates the King of Prussia’s restoration of Willem V to the Stadtholderate. Dominating the upper register, the Prussian eagle flies triumphantly, clutching a banner. In antiquity, the eagle symbolized imperial power, its image emblazoned on Roman standards. Now observe the sunburst motifs radiating throughout the composition. The sun, a potent symbol across cultures, often represents enlightenment, truth, and divine authority. In ancient Egypt, the sun god Ra was the source of all life; a parallel to the Stadtholder’s restored power. Note how such symbols recur and adapt through history. The eagle, for instance, appears not only in Roman contexts but also in heraldry across Europe, each time imbued with nuances of local and national identity. These symbols, deeply embedded in our collective memory, evoke primal responses and shape our understanding of power and authority. They echo through time, resonating within the depths of our shared cultural psyche.