Allegorie op de ontdekking van de samenzwering tegen Maurits, 1623 1623

This is a printed allegory on the discovery of a conspiracy against Prince Maurits, made in 1623 by an anonymous artist. The printmaking process, likely etching or engraving, allowed for the wide distribution of this political message. The material qualities of the print – its monochrome appearance, its reliance on line and text, and the cheapness of paper – all speak to its function as a piece of propaganda. The image depicts a triumphant angel, sword in hand, dispelling darkness and revealing figures below. These are the conspirators, exposed to the light of justice. Consider the labor involved: from the initial design to the cutting of the printing plate, to the countless impressions made and distributed. This was a concerted effort to shape public opinion. It is telling that it was made as a multiple, in contrast to one-off unique works, intended for mass consumption. This print challenges our conventional notions of art, reminding us that visual culture has always been intertwined with politics, labor, and the material conditions of its production.