Gezicht op Krimpen 1662 - 1683

Jan van Almeloveen's etching captures a serene view of Krimpen, with sailboats gliding along the water. The flags atop the masts are more than mere decoration. They are potent symbols of civic identity and maritime power in the Dutch Golden Age. Consider the presence of flags in earlier Venetian paintings, symbols of state power. Flags have been used to stake claims and announce territories since antiquity, appearing on Roman standards and medieval heraldry. They are a primal display of dominance and belonging. This need to stake our identities manifests in modern-day national flags, which have become vessels for collective pride, and tragically, division. Here, Almeloveen’s flag evokes feelings of Dutch national identity and the country’s dominance of trade routes during the 17th century. Flags continue to be powerful symbols today, constantly evolving and adapting as expressions of our collective and individual identities.