Titelpagina voor: De Politieke Kruyer, dl. 2, 1784 1784

Theodoor Koning created this print in 1784 as the title page for the second volume of De Politieke Kruyer, a Dutch political commentary. Its imagery asks us to consider the public role of art at a time of political tension. We see a female figure, perhaps representing liberty, seated on a pedestal, while two armed men stand either side of her. Above her head is a hat atop a spear, a symbol of freedom. The image uses visual codes to connect to the complex political situation in the Netherlands at the time. The country was divided between the Patriots, who sought democratic reforms, and the Orangists, who supported the rule of the Stadtholder, William V. Such images were vital to political debate. In order to fully understand the print’s meaning, we can consult archives and libraries for examples of period pamphlets, books and newspapers. By studying the visual culture of the time we can better understand how it commented on and even shaped the great political events of its day.