Rivierlandschap met toren before 1857

This printed prospectus, created by Edouard Vermorcken, describes and pictures the cities, villages, landmarks, and further places in the kingdom of the Netherlands. Note how the seal, with its lettering and circular design, resonates with ancient symbols of authority and knowledge, echoing seals and emblems from antiquity to the Renaissance. This act of branding or authentication is an attempt to capture the essence and spirit of the Dutch kingdom, visually and conceptually. In many cultures, seals serve as a potent symbol of authority, truth, and authenticity. The presence of this seal here suggests a link between the concrete reality of the Dutch landscape and the abstract idea of the nation-state. Like the ouroboros, the snake eating its own tail, the seal embodies cyclical continuity, in which Vermorcken aims to depict the Netherlands as a cohesive, enduring entity. This is not merely a depiction of places, but an assertion of a shared identity and collective memory.