Vreugdetekens voor het stadhuis van Den Haag, 1691 1691

Romeyn de Hooghe etched ‘Joy Signs for the Town Hall of The Hague’ in 1691, capturing a moment of public celebration. The town hall, adorned with celebratory decorations and portraits, is the focal point, with crowds gathered in the square, their joy expressed through bonfires and illuminations. The motif of public celebration itself carries deep cultural weight. Similar scenes appear throughout history from ancient Roman triumphs to Renaissance festivals. Fire, a symbol of purification and renewal, links to pagan rituals and collective emotional release. Consider the portraits adorning the town hall. The tradition of honouring leaders through portraiture, a practice stretching back to antiquity, is evident. These images serve as focal points for collective identity. This print captures a moment of collective effervescence, a concept that surfaces again and again in human history, a testament to the cyclical nature of human experience.