Maurits ontzet Bergen op Zoom, 1622 1840 - 1884

Jan Frederik Christiaan Reckleben made this print titled, "Maurits ontzet Bergen op Zoom, 1622" sometime in the mid-19th century. It's a scene of military conflict from over two centuries prior, and it offers us a glimpse into Dutch national identity as it was constructed and remembered in the 1800s. The image depicts Prince Maurits of Orange leading troops to relieve the besieged city of Bergen op Zoom. Consider the visual codes at play: Maurits is on horseback, elevated and central, embodying leadership. The Dutch soldiers are actively fighting, while the fallen enemies suggest a hard-won victory. This print reflects the 19th-century Dutch interest in their historical struggles for independence, particularly against Spanish rule during the Eighty Years' War. Institutions such as the Rijksmuseum played a crucial role in shaping this national narrative by collecting and displaying artworks that celebrated key moments and figures from Dutch history. To understand this work better, we might consult historical accounts of the siege, biographies of Prince Maurits, and studies of Dutch nationalism in the 19th century. Art like this reminds us that historical events are always filtered through the lens of later social and political concerns.