Verklaring van de prent met het Monument voor Hendrik Danielsz. Hooft, 1787 1787

This is “Verklaring van de prent met het Monument voor Hendrik Danielsz. Hooft,” made in 1787 by Joannes Nomsz. The artwork is a broadside printed on paper, a public declaration of sentiments memorializing Hendrik Danielsz. Hooft. Broadsides like these were crucial in shaping public opinion and rallying support for political causes during the late 18th century in the Netherlands. They capture a society in transition, grappling with ideas of national identity and civic virtue. The text praises Hooft's virtues and contributions. The poem reflects the values of the Dutch Enlightenment, emphasizing reason, virtue, and public service. Hooft is celebrated as a symbol of these ideals. The choice of language and the act of public memorializing served to construct and reinforce a particular version of Dutch identity. This print participates in a larger cultural and political project: shaping collective memory and promoting civic values during a period of significant social change. It speaks to the emotional investment people had in their leaders and in the ideals they represented.