Treffen tussen de Negende Burgercompagnie en Orangisten te Rotterdam, 1784 1784

Theodorus de Roode created this print titled "Clash between the Ninth Civic Company and Orangists in Rotterdam" in 1784. The image captures a moment of intense political conflict in the Netherlands during a period of growing social and political unrest. Here we see the clash between the Ninth Civic Company, who supported more democratic governance, and the Orangists, who favored the rule of the House of Orange. The print powerfully conveys the raw violence of the era, marked by deep divisions within Dutch society. Gender plays a crucial role here, as women appear in the periphery, symbolizing the domestic sphere disrupted by political turmoil. The print is a stark reminder of the cost of political division, as ordinary citizens become entangled in ideological conflicts. De Roode doesn't shy away from depicting the chaos, highlighting the emotional and physical toll on those involved. The print serves as a visual record of a pivotal moment in Dutch history, capturing the passions and tensions that shaped the nation's path.