Fotoreproductie van een gravure van de ontsnapping van Hugo de Groot uit Slot Loevestein in een boekenkist op 22 maart 1621 1850 - 1900

This engraving captures Hugo de Groot’s audacious escape from Loevestein Castle in 1621. The chest, prominently displayed, is the focal point, symbolizing confinement and, paradoxically, liberation. The chest as a symbol is deeply rooted in our collective consciousness, appearing throughout history from antiquity to the Renaissance. Think of Pandora's box, a vessel of unleashed chaos, or the reliquaries that guarded sacred relics, promising spiritual transcendence. In each instance, the chest represents both potential danger and salvation. Here, it's not just a container but a vessel of hope, a means of defying unjust imprisonment. The depiction evokes a powerful emotional response—the thrill of escape, the human will to overcome oppression, and the cyclical nature of power and resistance, echoing through time.