Erepoort opgericht bij de Loosduinse Brug te Den Haag, 1691 1691

This etching, made in 1691 by an anonymous artist, depicts a temporary triumphal arch erected for dignitaries at the Loosduinse Brug in The Hague. The image presents us with an intriguing blend of the classical and the contemporary. We see allegorical figures atop a structure resembling a Roman gateway, yet windmills and contemporary Dutch buildings flank either side. This juxtaposition reflects the self-conscious classicism of the Dutch Golden Age, when the Dutch Republic, newly independent, looked to the Roman Republic as a model. The arch itself would have been a spectacle, a piece of political theatre meant to impress the beholder with the power and sophistication of the Dutch state. Yet, its ephemerality reminds us that power is always provisional, always dependent on public perception. To fully understand this image, one must delve into the archives, examining contemporary accounts of state visits, architectural pattern books, and political pamphlets. The historian’s role is to place the work within its specific time and place, understanding its dialogue with the social and institutional forces that shaped its creation.