Spotprent over de sluiting en opening van der Staten-Generaal, 1884 1884

This 1884 print by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans depicts the closing and opening of the Dutch States-General. The dominant symbol is the figure of the speaker, split and mirrored, gesturing towards the assembly. His posture, an open palm, is a recurring motif across cultures, often signifying offering, truth, or a call to witness. We find echoes of this gesture in ancient Roman oratory, where the orator’s extended hand sought to persuade and command attention. Consider how, over centuries, this same gesture appears in religious iconography, like Christ’s blessing hand, or in political imagery, each time adapting to new cultural needs. It evokes a deep-seated, almost subconscious, response. The mirroring in this image speaks to a cycle, the ritualistic, repetitive nature of governance. It is a dance between tradition and progress, where the past informs the present. The image taps into our collective memory, the ingrained understanding of power, discourse, and the passage of time.