Vernietiging van het stadhouderschap, decoratie in de Plantage, 1795 1795

Noach van der Meer the Younger made this print in 1795 using etching and possibly other techniques. It commemorates the destruction of the Stadtholderate in the Netherlands. The print depicts an obelisk-like structure, a common symbol of power and stability. But this one is being dismantled. The steps leading to the top, each representing an aspect of the Stadtholder's authority, are being removed. Below, within a decorative frame, figures are shown hacking away at a tree and a hedge, symbols of the old regime. This imagery reflects the revolutionary fervor of the time. The Netherlands in 1795 was a society undergoing radical change. Inspired by the French Revolution, the Patriots sought to overthrow the Stadtholder, the de facto monarch, and establish a more democratic republic. Prints like this, often distributed widely, played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and mobilizing support for the revolution. To fully understand this print, we can consult archival records, political pamphlets, and visual sources from the period. By examining these resources, we gain insight into the complex social and institutional forces that shaped its creation and reception.