Titelpagina voor: Merope, Treurspel. Amsterdam: 1746 1746

This title page for "Merope, Treurspel," a tragedy play, was made in Amsterdam in 1746 by Andries van Buysen. It introduces a Dutch translation of a play by Italian author Scipio Maffei. The bee motif is central here, symbolizing industry and social order, virtues highly valued in the Dutch Republic's commercial society. Bees are seen bringing their labor to the hive, a metaphor for the collective good. Amsterdam's coat of arms sits above the image, suggesting the city's patronage and civic identity. The publisher's privilege, noted at the bottom, highlights the regulated book trade of the time. To understand this image fully, we can delve into the history of Dutch theater, the role of classical translations in shaping national culture, and the economic structures supporting artistic production. Such research reveals how art was embedded in Amsterdam's social and institutional life.