Allegorie op de Gelijkheid, 1795 1795

Hendrik Roosing created this allegory of equality in 1795 using etching. At first glance, the symmetrical composition draws the eye to the center, where figures from various social strata are unified by a rope, a symbol of their shared fate. Above, allegorical figures of Justice and Enlightenment preside over the scene, while below, classical deities representing power and commerce recline. The linear quality of the etching emphasizes the contours of the figures, giving them a neoclassical formality. Yet, this ordered scene is disrupted by the tension between the figures' gestures and the rigid constraints of the rope. Does this suggest a forced equality, or a genuine unity? Roosing destabilizes traditional hierarchies. He questions the very notion of fixed social categories. The rays of light emanating from the cherubic figure holding the book suggest that understanding and knowledge are the keys to unlocking true equality. Ultimately, Roosing’s work serves as a reminder that equality is not a static concept, but rather an evolving discourse shaped by the forces of history, culture, and human agency.