Slag van Waterloo / Bataille de Waterloo 1800 - 1833

Philippus Jacobus Brepols' print "Slag van Waterloo", made around 1815, captures the famous battle through a series of vignettes. Dominating the scenes are martial figures, horses, and flags, symbols of power, victory, and national identity. Consider the raised flag, a motif stretching back to antiquity. We see it in Roman military standards, medieval banners, and here, in the Napoleonic era. It signifies not just a nation, but a collective will, a shared purpose. This symbol elicits a powerful emotional response: pride, loyalty, and a sense of belonging. It speaks to the depths of our collective memory. Yet, the flag's meaning is never fixed. It can be a rallying point for freedom fighters or a tool of oppression, depending on who wields it. It becomes a vessel for the hopes and fears of entire cultures. It’s this continuous evolution and reinterpretation of symbols that fascinates me—how they resurface, transformed, in the theatre of human history.