Drie penningen op het beleg van Amsterdam door Willem II, 1650 1724 - 1726

These three prints commemorate the siege of Amsterdam by William II in 1650. Note the prevalence of personified virtues, laden with historical and cultural weight. Consider, for example, the coin depicting a female figure standing triumphant amidst chaos. This is likely an allegorical representation of the city of Amsterdam as a virtuous maiden, reminiscent of the Roman goddess Roma. She stands as a symbol of resilience and moral fortitude, a trope we see echoed through antiquity into the Renaissance. Think of Botticelli’s Venus, who embodies a similar synthesis of virtue and power. Yet, what is more, compelling is how such symbols tap into our collective memory. The image resonates with the subconscious; the maiden becomes a vessel carrying the emotional weight of generations who have faced adversity. This motif resurfaces in different epochs, molded by each era's unique concerns, and, at the same time, reflecting an ever-evolving, cyclical progression.