Reliëf met wapens en wapenuitrusting in het Stadhuis op de Dam 1719 - 1783

Hubert Quellinus made this relief with weapons and weaponry for the Town Hall in Amsterdam, likely around the mid-17th century. It presents a symbolic display of military might, reflecting the cultural values and power dynamics of the Dutch Golden Age. The image is a visual code for the era’s political and economic structures. The arrangement of arms, armor, and flags evokes the dominance of the Dutch Republic, a major maritime power with global trade routes. It’s no accident that this image was created in the Netherlands. It references its military achievements during the Eighty Years' War, when the Dutch fought for independence from Spain. The Town Hall itself was an institution, an important site of governance. Art was often used here as a form of propaganda, helping to establish social and institutional values. Understanding art like this requires historical research, allowing us to better reflect on art's meaning and how it embodies the social context of its time.