Spiegel van Staat. Vervattende De Macht der Generaliteyt

About this artwork

Klassieke tempel waarin zich diverse klassieke figuren bevinden, onder wie Perseus met Medusa op zijn schild, Mercurius met zijn gevleugelde hoed, een stroomgod en een sater. Her en der in de voorstelling symbolen van de rebelse Nederlanden: vrijheidshoed, pijlenbundel, leeuw met pijlenbundel, spreuk 'concordia res parvae crescunt'.

Art Historical Context

**Spiegel van Staat.attende De Macht deriteyt** (1707) is a captivating etching by Romeyn dehe, a prolific Dutch Baroque artist renowned for his intricate political allegories and satirical prints. just 192 × 149 mm, this small yet densely packed work depicts a classical temple teeming with mythological figures: Perseus brandishing Medusa's head on his shield, Mercury his winged hat, a river god, and a satyr. De Hooghe's masterful etching technique allows for fine lines and rich textures, evoking the grandeur of antiquity in a compact format ideal for dissemination during the Dutch Golden Age's twilight. Created amid the War of the Spanish Succession, the print symbolizes the power of the States General—the "Generality"—over the United Provinces. Scattered throughout are emblems of Dutch resilience from the Eighty Years' War: the liberty cap of freedom, bundles of arrows representing unity, and the lion clutching arrows, paired with the motto *concordia res parvae crescunt* ("small things grow through concord"). These motifs celebrate the "rebellious Netherlands'" hard-won independence and collective strength. De Hooghe's blend of classical mythology and patriotic symbolism underscores the era's political tensions, making this etching a vivid "mirror of state" for contemporaries. It invites us to reflect on how art wove national identity into enduring visual narratives.

About the Artist

Romeyn de Hooghe · 1645–1708

Romeyn de Hooghe (1645-1708) was a Dutch Baroque engraver, draughtsman, and political satirist who became the most prolific and versatile graphic artist of the Dutch Republic in the late seventeenth century. Born in Amsterdam, he rose to become one of early modern Europe's most important printmakers and a pioneering master of political satire. De Hooghe's significance extends far beyond his techn...