Titelblad voor: Constitutions-Acte für die Batavische Republik, nebst andere dazu gehörige Stücke wie selbige von ihren Einwohnern am 23 April 1798 angenommen sind 1798

This print by Theodoor Koning, made in 1798, allegorically celebrates the constitution of the Batavian Republic. At its heart, we see classical figures. To the left, Minerva, goddess of wisdom and warfare, stands guard with spear and shield beside a pillar inscribed with "Constitutions." Justice, in the center, holds scales, symbols of balance and law. On the right, Libertas extends a laurel wreath, a gesture echoing ancient Roman triumphs, adapted here to honor the new republic. Note the Phrygian cap atop a pole—a symbol of freedom since antiquity. This echoes its earlier use during the Roman Empire, where it signified freed slaves, it reappears during the French Revolution, marking a potent symbol of liberation. Such symbols carry their own psychological weight, tapping into a collective memory of struggles for freedom. The radiant sun in the background, a long-standing symbol of renewal and enlightenment, casts its light on a temple atop a hill. These symbols transcend time and space, reminding us of the cyclical nature of history, ever resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings.